








?8r 






=i-?r 




Class _:M_UJi3 

Book S^^ 

CoRyiightN" 



COPVRIGHT DEPOSIT. 




AN EDITION OF TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY 
COPIES ON ITALIAN HAND-MADE PAPEB, AND 
THREE COPIES ON IMPERIAL JAPANESE VELLUM, 
PRINTED IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, MCMim 



THE CAXTON CLUB 
SCRAP-BOOK 



rWlHE "kyndly entente of every gentylman 
-^ Is the furtheraunce of all gentylnessej 
And to procure in all that ever he can 
For to renewe all noble worthynesse ; 
This dayly is sene at our eye expresse 
Of noble men that do endyte and rede 
In bokes olde, theyr worythy myndes tofede. 

— Chhistine de Pisax. 



THE CAXTON CLUB 
SCRAP-BOOK 

EARLY ENGLISH VERSES 
1250-1650 

CHOSEN AND COLLOCATED 
BY 

JOHN VANCE CHENEY 




CHICAGO 

THE CAXTON CLUB 
MCMIIII 



APR 3 i^UO 

CUij^, ST r^Oi) 
CUtSS OL. AXc. N« 

COPY e. 






g)ptright, 1904 
By The Caxton Club 



THE CAXTON CLUB 
SCRAP-BOOK 



A GOOD WOMAN 

NO thyng ys to man so dere 
As wommanys love in gode manure. 
A gode womman is mannys blys. 
There her love right and stedfast ys. 
There ys no solas under hevene 
Of alle that a man may nevene 
That shulde a man so moche glew 
As a gode womman that loveth true. 
Ne derer is none in Goddis hurde 
Than a chaste womman with lovely worde. 



[3] 



2 



THE GODDESSE IN THE GARDYN 

THAN gan I studye in my-self and seyne, 
" A ! suete, ar ye a warldly creature. 
Or hevinly thing in likenesse of nature ? 

Or ar ye god Cupidis owin princesse. 

And cummyn are to louse me out of band ? 

Or ar ye verray nature the goddesse. 

That haue depaynted with your hevinly hand 

This gardyn full of flouris, as they stand ? 

Quhat sail I think, allace ! quhat reuerenee 

Sail I minister to your excellence ? " 

{Her array) 

Off hir array the form gif I sail write, 

Toward hir goldin haire and rich atyre 

In fret-wise couchit was with perllis quhite 

And grete balas lemyng as the fyre, 

With mony ane emeraut and faire saphire ; 

And on hir hede a chaplet fresch of hewe. 

Off plumys partit rede, and quhite, and blewe ; 

[4] 



Full of quaking spangis bryght as gold, 
Forgit of schap like to the amorettis. 
So new, so fresch, so plesant to behold, 
The plumys eke like to the floure-Ionettis, 
And othir of schap like to the [round 

crokettis]. 
And, aboue all this, there was, wele I wote, 
Beautee eneuch to mak a world to dote. 



[5] 



3 



BLOW NORTHERN WIND 

ICHOT a burde in boure bryht. 
That fully semly is on syht, 
Menskful maiden of myht 
Feir ant fre to fonde ; 
In al this wurhliche won 
A burde of blod ant of bon ; 
Never yete y nuste non 
Lussomore in londe. 

Blow northern wynd I 

Send thou me my suetyng ! 

Blow, northern wynd ! blou, blou, blou ! 

With lokkes lefliche ant longe, 
With frount ant face feir to fonge, 
With murthes monie mote heo monge, 
That brid so breme in boure 

[6] 



With lossom eye grete ant gode, 
With browen blysfol underhode, 
He that reste him on the rode, 
That leflyeh lyf honoure. 

Blou, northern wynd, etc. 

Hire lure lumes Uht 
Ase a launterne a nyht, 
Hire bleo blykyeth so bryht, 

So feyr heo is ant fyn. 
A suetly suyre heo hath to holde, 
With armes shuldre ase mon wolde, 
Ant fyngres feyre forte folde, 
God wolde hue were myn ! 

Blou northern wynd, etc. 

Heo is coral of godnesse, 
Heo is rubie of ryhtfulnesse, 
Heo is cristal of clairnesse. 

Ant baner of bealte. 
Heo is lilie of largesse, 
Heo is parvenke of prouesse 
Heo is solsecle of suetnesse 

Ant lady of lealte. 

For hire love y carke ant care. 
For hire love y droupne ant dare. 
For hire love my blisse is bare 
Ant al ich waxe won, 

[7} 



For hire love in slep yslake, 
For hire love al nyht ich wake, 
For hire love mournyng y make 
More then eny mon. 

Blou northern wynd ! 

Send thou me my suetyng ! 

Blou, northern wynd, blou, blou, blou ! 



[8] 



MIRRY MARGARET 

MIRRY Margaret, 
As mydsomer flowre ; 
Gentill as fawcoun 
Or hawke of the towre : 
With solace and gladness, 
Moche mirthe and no madness. 
All good and no badness. 
So joyously, 
So maydenly. 
So womanly. 
Her demenyng 
In everythynge 
Far, far passyng 
That I can endyght, 
Or suffyce to wryghte, 
Of mirry Margarete, 
As mydsomer flowre, 
Gentyll as fawcoun 
Or hawke of the towre, 

[9] 



As pacient and as styll, 
And as full of good-wyll 

As faire Isaphill ; 

Colyaunder, 
Swete pomaimder, 
Goode Cassaimder ; 
Stedfast of thought, 
Wele made, wele wrought ; 
Far may be sought, 
Erst that ye can fynde 
So corteise, so kynde. 
As mirry Margaret, 
This mydsomer floure, 
Gentyll as faucoun 
Or hawke of the towre. 



[10] 



ELISA 

SEE where she sits upon the grassie greene, 
(O seemely sight I) 
Yelad in Scarlot, hke a mayden Queene, 

And ermines white : 
Upon her head a Cremosin coronet 
With Damaske roses and DafFadiUies set : 
Bay leaves betweene. 
And primroses greene, 
EmbeUish the sweete Violet. 

Tell me, have ye seene her angelick face 

Like Phoebe fayre ? 
Her heavenly haveour, her princely grace. 

Can you well compare ? 
The Redde rose medled with the White yfere, 
In either cheeke depeincten lively chere : 

Her modest eye. 

Her Majestic, 
Where have you seene the like but there ? 

[11] 



I see Calliope speede her to the place, 

Where my Goddesse shines ; 
And after her the other Muses trace 

With their Violines. 
Bene they not Bay braunches which they do 

beare. 
All for Elisa in her hand to weare ? 

So sweetely they play. 

And sing all the way. 
That it a heaven is to heare. 

Lo, how finely the Graces can it foote 

To the Instrument : 
They dauncen deffly, and singen soote. 

In their meriment. 
Wants not a fourth Grace to make the daunce 

even? 
Let that rowme to my Lady be yeven. 

She shal be a Grace, 

To fyll the fourth place, 
And reigne with the rest in heaven. 

Bring hether the Pincke and purple 
Cullambine, 

With GeUiflowres ; 
Bring Coronations, and Sops-in-wine 

Wome of Paramoures : 
Strowe me the ground with Daffadowndillies, 
And Cowslips, and Kingcups, and loved Lillies; 

[12] 



The pretie Pawnee, 
And the Chevisaunce, 
Shall match with the fayre flowre Delice. 

Now ryse up, Elisa, deckM as thou art 

In royall aray ; 
And now ye daintie Damsells may depart 

Eche one her way. 
I feare I have troubled your troupes to longe 
Let dame Elisa thanke you for her song : 

And if you come hether 

When Damsines I gether, 
I will part them all you among. 



[13] 



6 



A PRAISE OF HIS LADYE 

GEUE place you Ladies and begon. 
Boast not your selues at all : 
For here at hande approcheth one 
Whose face will staine you all. 

The vertue of her liuely lokes. 
Excels the precious stone : 
I wishe to haue none other bokes 
To read or loke vpon. 

I thinke nature hath lost the moulde, 
Where she her shape did take : 
Or else I doubt if nature could. 
So faire a creature make. 

If all the world were sought so farre. 
Who could finde such a wight : 
Her beauty twinkleth like a starre, 
Within the frosty night. 

[14] 



Her rosiall colour comes and goes. 
With such a comely grace : 
More redier to then doth the rose, 
Within her liuely face. 

• • • • • 

O Lord it is a world to see. 
How vertue can repaire : 
And decke in her such honestie, 
Whom nature made so faire. 



[U] 



ON HIS MISTRIS, THE QUEEN OF 
BOHEMIA 

YOU meaner beauties of the night, 
That poorly satisfie our eies 
More by your number then your light. 
You common-people of the skies. 
What are you when the moon shall rise ? 

You curious chanters of the wood. 
That warble forth dame Nature's layes, 
Thinking your passions understood 
By your weake accents, what 's your praise 
When Philomell her voyce shal raise ? 

You violets that first apeare, 
By your pure purpel mantels knowne, 
Like the proud virgins of the yeare. 
As if the spring were all your own. 
What are you when the rose is blowne ? 

So when my mistris shal be scene 
In form and beauty of her mind. 
By vertue first, then choyce, a queen. 
Tell me, if she were not design'd 
Th' eclypse and glory of her kind? 

[16] 



8 



MY LADY COMETH 

HYD, Absolon, thy gilte tresses elere ; 
Ester, ley thou thy meknesse al a-doun ; 
Hyd, Jonathas, al thy frendly manere ; 
Penalopee, and Mareia Catoun, 
Mak of your wyfhod no comparisoun ; 
Hyde ye your beautes, Isoude and Eleyne ; 
My lady eometh, that al this may disteyne. 

Thy faire body, lat hit nat appere, 

Lavyne ; and thou, Lucresse of Rome toun, 

And PoUxene, that boghten love so dere, 

And Cleopatre, with al thy passioun, 

Hyde ye your trouthe of love and your renoun; 

And thou, Tisbe, that hast of love swich peyne ; 

My lady eometh, that al this may disteyne. 

Herro, Dido, Laudomia, alle y-fere. 

And Phyllis, hanging for thy Demophoun, 

And Canace, espyed by thy chere, 

Ysiphile, betraysed with Jasoun, 

Maketh of your trouthe neyther boost ne soun ; 

Nor Ypermistre or Adriane, ye twejnie ; 

My lady eometh, that al this may disteyne. 

a [17] 



9 



MADAME EGLENTYNE 

THERE was also a Nonne, a Prioresse, 
That of hir smyling was ful simple and 
coy; 
Hir gretteste ooth was but by seynt Loy ; 
And she was eleped madame Eglentyne. 
Ful wel she song the service divyne, 
Entuned in hir nose ful semely ; 
And Frensh she spak ful faire and fetisly, 
After the scole of Stratford atte Bowe, 
For Frensh of Paris was to hir unknowe. 
At mete wel y-taught was she with-alle ; 
She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle, 
Ne wette hir fingres in hir sauce depe. 
Wel coude she carie a morsel, and wel kepe, 

That no drope ne fille up-on hir brest. 
In curteisye was set ful moche hir lest. 
Hir over Uppe wyped she so clene, 
That in hir coppe was no ferthing sene 
Of grece, whan she dronken hadde hirdraughte. 
Ful semely after hir mete she raughte, 

[18] 



And sikerly she was of greet disport, 
And fill plesaunt, and amiable of port, 
And peyned hir to countrefete chere 
Of court, and been estatlich of manere, 
And to ben holden digne of reverence. 
But, for to speken of hir conscience. 
She was so charitable and so pitous. 
She wolde wepe, if that she sawe a mous 
Caught in a trappe, if it were deed or bledde. 
Of smale houndes had she, that she fedde 
With rosted flesh, or milk and wastel breed. 
But sore weep she if oon of hem were deed. 
Or if men smoot it with a yerde smerte : 
And al was conscience and tendre herte. 
Ful semely hir wimpel pinched was ; 
Hir nose tretys ; hir eyen greye as glas ; 
Hir mouth ful smal, and ther-to softe and reed ; 
But sikerly she hadde a fair forheed ; 
It was almost a spanne brood, I trowe ; 
For, hardily, she was nat undergrowe. 
Ful fetis was hir cloke, as I was war. 
Of smal coral aboute hir arm she bar 
A peire of bedes, gauded al with grene ; 
And ther-on heng a broche of gold ful shene, 
On which ther was first write a crowned A, 
And after, Amor vincit omnia. 



[19] 



10 



THE YOUNG LOVER 

AYONG Squyer, 
A lovyer, and a lusty bacheler, 
With lokkes crulle, as they were leyd in presse. 
Of twenty yeer of age he was, I gesse. 
Of his stature he was of evene lengthe, 
And wonderly dehvere, and greet of strengthe. 
And he hadde been somtyme in chivachye, 
In Flaundres, in Artoys, and Picardye, 
And born him wel, as of so Utel space. 
In hope to stonden in his lady grace. 
Embrouded was he, as it were a mede 
Al ful of fresshe floures, whyte and rede. 
Singinge he was, or floytinge, al the day ; 
He was as fresh as is the month of May. 
Short was his goune, with sieves longe and 

wyde. 
Wel coude he sitte on hors, and faire ryde. 
He coude songes make and wel endyte, 
luste and eek daunce, and wel purtreye and 

wryte. 
So bote he lovede, that by nightertale 
He sleep namore than doth a nightingale. 

[20] 



11 



THE STUDENT 

A CLERK ther was of Oxenford also. 
That un-to logik hadde longe y-go. 
As lene was his hors as is a rake. 
And he nas nat right fat, I undertake ; 
But loked holwe, and ther-to soberly. 
Ful thredbar was his overest courtepy ; 
For he had geten him yet no benefice, 
Ne was so worldly for to have office. 
For him was levere have at his beddes heed 
Twenty bokes, clad in blak or reed 
Of Aristotle and his philosophye. 
Than robes riche, or fithele, or gay sautrye. 



[21] 



12 



THE PRIEST 

A GOOD man was ther of reiigioun, 
And was a povre Persoun of a toun ; 
But riche he was of holy thoght and werk. 
He was also a lerned man, a clerk, 
That Cristes gospel trewely wolde preche ; 
His parisshens devoutly wolde he teche. 
Benigne he was, and wonder diligent, 
And in adversitee ful pacient. 

He sette nat his benefice to hyre. 
And leet his sheep encombred in the myre. 
And ran to London, un-to seynt Poules, 
To seken him a chaunterie for soules, 
Or with a bretherhed to been withholde ; 
But dwelte at boom, and kepte wel his folde. 
So that the wolf ne made it nat miscarie ; 
He was a shepherde and no mercenarie. 
And though he holy were, and vertuous. 
He was to sinful man nat despitous, 

[22] 



Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne. 
But in his teching discreet and benigne. 
To drawen folk to heven by fairnesse 
By good ensample, was his bisynesse : 
But it were any persone obstinat, 
What so he were, of heigh or lowe estat, 
Him wolde he snibben sharply for the nones. 
A bettre preest, I trowe that nowher non is. 
He wayted after no pompe and reverence, 
Ne maked him a spyced conscience. 
But Cristes lore, and his apostles twelve, 
He taughte, and first he folwed it him-selve. 



[23] 



13 



SPRING 



A PRILLE with his shoures soote 
jljL The droghte of Marche hath perced to 

the roote, 
And bathed every vejrne in swich licour. 
Of which vertu engendred is the flour ; 
. . . Zephirus eek with his swete breeth 
Inspired hath in every holt and heeth 
The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne 
Hath in the Ram his halfe cours y-ronne. 
And smale fowles maken melodye, 
That slepen al the night with open ye. 



[24] 



14 



CUCKOO SONG 

Q< UMER is icumen in, 
K3 Lhude sing cuccu ! 
Groweth sed, and bloweth med. 
And springth the wude nu — 
Sing cuccu! 

Awe bleteth after lomb, 

Lhouth after calve cu ; 
Bulluc sterteth, bucke verteth, 

Murie sing cucu ! 

Cuccu, cuccu, well singes thu, cuccu 

Ne swike thu naver nu ; 
Sing cuccu, nu, sing cuccu. 

Sing cuccu, sing cuccu, nu I 



[25] 



15 



SPRING 



MY beloved spake, and said unto me, 
Rise up, my love, my fair one, and 
come away. 
For, lo, the winter is past. 
The rain is over and gone ; 
The flowers appear on the earth ; 
The time of the singing of birds is come, 
And the voice of the turtle is heard in our land ; 
The fig tree ripeneth her green figs. 
And the vines are in blossom, 
They give forth their fragrance. 
Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. 



[26] 



16 



SPRING 

WHAT better change appears? 
Whence is it that the air so sudden 
clears, 
And all things in a moment turn so mild? 
Whose breath or beams have got proud earth 

with child. 
Of all the treasure that great Nature 's worth, 
And makes her every minute to bring forth ? 
How comes it winter is so quite forced hence, 
And lock'd up under ground ? that every sense 
Hath several objects? trees have got their 

heads. 
And fields their coats ? that now the shining 

meads 
Do boast the paunce, the lily, and the rose ; 
And every flower doth laugh as Zephjrr blows ? 
That seas are now more even than the land ? 
The rivers run as smoothed by his hand ; 
Only their heads are crisped by his stroke: — 
How plays the yearling with his brow scarce 

broke 

[27] 



Now in the open grass I and frisking lambs 
Make wanton salts about their dry-suck'd 

dams ! — 
Who to repair their bags do rob the fields. 

How is 't each bough a several music yields ? 
The lusty throstle, early nightingale, 
Accord in tune, though vary in their tale ; 
The chirping swallow caU'd forth by the sun, 
The crested lark doth his division run? 
The yellow bees the air with murmur fill. 
The finches carol, and the turtles bill? 



[28] 



17 



SONG ON MAY MORNING 

NOW the bright morning-star. Day's 
harbinger, 
Comes dancing from the east, and leads with 

her 
The flowery May, who from her green lap 

throws 
The yellow cowslip, and the pale primrose. 
Hail, bounteous May, that dost inspire 
Mirth, and youth, and warm desire ! 
Woods and groves are of thy dressing ; 
Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing. 
Thus we salute thee with our early song. 
And welcome thee, and wish thee long. 



[29] 



18 



MAY 



FOR mirth of May, wyth skippis and 
wyth hoppis, 
The birdis sang vpon the tender croppis 

With eourius note, as Venus chapell clerkis : 

The rosis reid, now spreding of thair knoppis. 

War powderit bryeht with hevinly beriall 

droppis, 

Throu hemes rede birnyng as ruby sperkis ; 

The skyes rang for schoutyng of the larkis. 



[30] 



19 



SPRING 

THE soote season, that bud and bloom forth 
brings. 
With green hath clad the hill, and eke the 

vale. 
The nightingale with feathers new she sings ; 
The turtle to her make hath told her tale. 
Summer is come, for every spray now springs, 
The hart hath hung his old head on the pale ; 
The buck in brake his winter coat he flings ; 
The fishes flete with new repaired scale ; 
The adder all her slough away she slings ; 
The swift swallow pursueth the flies smale ; 
The busy bee her honey now she mings ; 
Winter is worn that was the flowers' bale. 
And thus I see among these pleasant things 
Each care decays, and yet my sorrow springs ! 



(31) 



20 



SPRING 

AND now all nature seem'd in love: 
. The lusty sap began to move ; 
New juice did stirre th' embracing vines> 
And birds had drawne their valentines, 

• ••■•• 

Already were the eaves possest 
With the swift pilgrim's daubed nest ; 

The showers were short, the weather mild. 
The morning fresh, the evening smil'd. 



132] 



21 



A SUMMER DAY 

THE golden globe incontinent 
Sets up his shining head, 
And o'er the earth and firmament 
Displays his beams abread. 

The ample heaven of fabrick sm^e. 
In cleanness does surpass 
The crystal and the silver pure. 
Or clearest pohsht glass. 

The time so tranquil is and still. 
That nowhere shall ye find. 
Save on a high and barren hill. 
An air of peeping wind. 

All trees and simples, great and small. 
That balmy leaf do bear. 
Than they were painted on a wall 
No more they move or steir. 
...... 

» [33] 



Calm is the deep and purple sea, 
Yea, smoother than the sand ; 
The waves, that weltering wont to be. 
Are stable like the land. 

So silent is the cessile air 
That every cry and call 
The hills and dales and forest fair 
Again repeats them all. 



[34] 



22 



THE RAINBOW 

HOW bright wert thou, when Shem's 
admu-ing eye 
Thy burnisht, flaming arch did first descry I 
When Terah, Nahor, Haran, Abram, Lot, 
The youthful world's gray fathers in one knot. 
Did with intentive looks watch every hour 
For thy new light, and trembled at each 

shower 1 
When thou dost shine. Darkness looks white 

and fair. 
Forms turn to musick, clouds to smiles and 

air. 



[35] 



23 



THE DEWDROP 

SEE how the orient dew, 
Shed from the bosom of the Mom 
Into the blowing roses, 
Yet careless of its mansion new. 
For the clear region where 'twas bom; 
Round in itself incloses : 
And, in its little globe's extent, 
Frames, as it can, its native element. 
How it the purple flow r does shght. 
Scarce touching where it lyes ; 
But gazing back upon the skies. 
Shines with a mournful Ught; 
Like its own tear: 

Because so long divided from the spheer. 
Restless it roules, and unsecure, 
Trembling, lest it grow impure ; 
Till the warm sun pitty its pain. 
And to the skies exhales it back again. 



[36] 



24 



SUMMER MORNING 

WHEN that the rowes and the rayes redde 
Eastward to us full early ginnen 
spredde. 
Even at the twylyght in the dawneynge, 
Whan that the larke of custom ginneth synge, 
For to salue in her heavenly laye, 
The lusty goddesse of the morrowe graye, 
I meane Aurora, which afore the sunne 
Is wont t' enchase the blacke skyes dunne, 
And al the darknesse of the dimmy night: 
And freshe Phebus, with comforte of his light. 
And with the brightnes of his hemes shene. 
Hath overgylt the huge hylles grene ; 
And floures eke, agayn the morowe-tide. 
Upon their stalkes gan playn their leaves wide. 



[371 



25 



SUMMER MORNING 



THE purpour sone, with tendir bemys reid, 
In orient bricht as angell did appeir, 
Throw goldin skjds putting vp his heid, 
Quhois gilt tressis schone so wondir cleir, 
That all the world tuke confort, fer and neir, 
To luke vpone his fresche and blisfuU face, 
Doing all sable fro the hevynnis chace. 

n 

Full angellike thir birdis sang thair houris 
Within thair courtyns grene, in-to thair bouris, 
Apparalit quhiteand red, with blumys suete ; 
Anamalit was the felde wyth all colouris, 
The perly droppis schuke in silvir sehouris. 



[38] 



26 



SUMMER MORNING 



THE morrow fayre with purple beames 
Disperst the shadowes of the misty 
night, 
And Titan, playing on the eastern streames, 
Gan cleare the deawy ayre with springing light. 

II 

At last, the golden orientall gate 
Of greatest heaven gan to open fayre ; 
And Phoebus, fresh as brydegrome to his mate, 
Came dauncing forth, shaking his deawie hayre ; 
And hurld his glistring beams through gloomy 
ayre. 



[39] 



27 



MORNING 

I 

FOE. see, the dapple gray coursers of the 
morne 
Beat up the light with their bright silver 

hooves. 
And chase it through the skye. 

n 

Darknesse is fled: looke, infant mom hath 

drawne 
Bright silver curtains 'bout the couch of night ; 
And now Auroras horse trots azure rings, 
Breathing faire light about the firmament. 



[40] 



28 



PHOSPHOR DISMISSES THE 
DANCING FAYS 

TO rest! to rest! The herald of the day. 
Bright Phosphorus, commands you 
hence! Obey! 
The moon is pale, and spent ; and winged night 
Makes headlong haste to fly the morning's 

sight, 
Who now is rising from her blushing wars. 
And with her rosy hand puts back the stars. 



[41] 



29 



SUMMER MORNING 

FULL many a glorious morning have I seen 
Flatter the mountain-tops with sovereign 
eye, 
Kissing with golden face the meadows green, 
Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy. 



[42] 



30 



SUMMER MORNING 

LOOK, love, what envious streaks 
Do lace the severing clouds in yonder 
east: 
Night's candles are burnt out, and jocund day- 
Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops. 



[43] 



31 



SUMMER MORNING 

WHEN in the East the dawn doth blush. 
Here cool, fresh spirits the air brush ; 
Herbs strait get up, flow'rs peep and spread. 
Trees whisper praise, and bow the head. 



[44] 



32 



MORNING 



I SEE the sun, 
Eternal painter, now begin to rise. 
And limn the heavens in vermilion dye ; 
And having dipped his pencil, aptly framed. 
Already in the colour of the morn, 
With various temper he doth mix in one 
Darkness and light ; and drawing curiously 
Strait golden Unes quite through the dusky 

sky, 
A rough draft of the day he seems to yield. 
With red and tawny in an azure field. 



[4^] 



33 



TO THE LARK 

SENTINEL of the morning light ! 
Reveller of the spring ! 
How sweetly, nobly wild thy flight. 

Thy boundless journeying : 
Far from thy brethren of the woods, alone, 
A hermit chorister before God's throne I 

Oh ! wilt thou climb yon heavens for me. 
Yon rampart's starry height. 
Thou interlude of melody 

'T wixt darkness and the light. 
And seek with heav'n's first dawn upon thy 

crest. 
My lady love, the moonbeam of the west ? 

No woodland caroller art thou ; 

Far from the archer s eye. 

Thy course is o'er the mountain's brow. 

Thy music in the sky : 
Then fearless float thy path of cloud along, 
Thou earthly denizen of angel song. 

[46] 



34 



TWILIGHT AND NIGHT 

I WALK unseen 
On the dry smooth-shaven green, 
To behold the wandermg moon. 
Riding near her highest noon. 
Like one that had been led astray 
Through the heaven's wide pathless way ; 
And oft, as if her head she bowed. 
Stooping through a fleecy cloud. 
Oft, on a plat of rising ground, 
I hear the far-off curfew sound. 
Over some wide-watered shore. 
Swinging slow with sullen roar ; 
Or, if the air will not permit. 
Some still removed place will fit. 
Where glowing embers through the room 
Teach Ught to counterfeit a gloom, 
Far from all resort of mirth. 
Save the cricket on the hearth. 
Or the bellman's drowsy charm 
To bless the doors from nightly harm. 

[47] 



Or let my lamp, at midnight hour. 
Be seen in some high lonely tower. 
Where I may oft outwatch the Beai% 
With thrice-great Hermes, or misphere 
The spirit of Plato, to unfold 
What worlds or what vast regions hold 
The immortal mind that hath forsook 
Her mansion in this fleshly nook. 



[48] 



35 



COMUS'S EVENING SONG 

THE star that bids the shepherd fold 
Now the top of heaven doth hold ; 
And the gilded car of day 
His glowing axle doth allay 
In the steep Atlantic stream ; 
And the slope sun his upward beam 
Shoots against the dusky pole. 
Pacing toward the other goal 
Of his chamber in the east. 
Meanwhile, welcome joy and feast. 
Midnight shout and revelry. 
Tipsy dance and jollity. 
Braid your locks with rosy twine. 
Dropping odours, dropping wine. 
Rigour now is gone to bed ; 
And Advice with scrupulous head, 
Strict Age, and sour Severity, 
With their grave saws, in slumber lie. 



[49] 



36 



THE EVENING KNELL 

SHEPHERDS, all, and maidens fair, 
Fold your flocks up, for the air 
'Gins to thicken, and the sun 
Already his great course hath run. 
See the dewdrops how they kiss 
Every little flower that is. 
Hanging on their velvet heads, 
Like a rope of crystal beads : 
See the heavy clouds low falling, 
And bright Hesperus down calling 
The dead Night from under ground ; 
At whose rising mists unsound, 
Damps and vapours fly apace, 
Hovering o'er the wanton face 
Of these pastures, where they come. 
Striking dead both bud and bloom : 
Therefore, from such danger lock 
Every one his loved flock ; 
And let your dogs lie loose without. 
Lest the wolf come as a scout 

[50] 



From the mountain, and, ere day. 
Bear a lamb or kid away ; 
Or the crafty thievish fox 
Break upon your simple flocks. 

• ••••• 

So you shall good shepherds prove. 
And for ever hold the love 
Of our great god. Sweetest slumbers. 
And soft silence, fall in numbers 
On your eyelids I So, farewell 1 
Thus I end my evening's knell. 



[31] 



37 



THE STARS 



LORD how the heavens be spangled I 
How each spark 
Contends for greater brightnes, to undark 
The shades of night ; and in a silent story, 
Declare the greatnesse of their Maker's glory ! 



[52 J 



38 



NIGHT 

DEAR Night I this world's defeat; 
The stop to busie fools; care's check 
and curb; 
The day of spirits ; my soul's calm retreat 
Which none disturb I 
Christ's progress, and His prayer time ; 
The hours to which high Heaven doth chime. 

God's silent, searching flight ; 

When my Lord's head is filled with dew, 

and all 
His locks are wet with the clear drops of 

Night; 
His still, soft call ; 

His knocking time ; the soul's dumb watch. 
When spirits their fair kinred catch. 



[531 



39 



SONG TO THE WIND 

DISCOVER thou what is 
The strong creature from before the 
flood, 
Without flesh, without bone. 
Without vein, without blood. 
Without head, without feet ; 
It will neither be older nor younger 
Than at the beginning; 

• ••••• 
Great God ! how the sea whitens 
When first it comes I 

Great are its gusts 

When it comes from the south ; 

• ••••• 
It is in the field, it is in the wood. 
Without hand and without foot. 
Without signs of old age, 

Though it be co-eval 

With tte five ages or periods ; 

And older still. 

Though they be numberless years. 

[54] 



It is also so wide ; 
As the surface of the earth ; 
And it was not born. 
Nor was it seen. 

• • • * • • 

It commences its jom'ney 
Above the marble rock. 
It is sonorous, it is dumb, 
It is mild, 

It is strong, it is bold, 
When it glances over the land. 
It is silent, it is vocal. 

It is clamorous, \ 

It is the most noisy 

On the face of the earth. { 

It is good, it is bad. 

It is yonder, it is here ; 

It will discompose, 

But will not repair the injury; 

It will not suffer for its doings. 

Seeing it is blameless. 

It is wet, it is dry, 

It frequently comes. 

Proceeding from the heat of the sun, 

And the coldness of the moon. 



[55] 



40 



WINTER NIGHTS 

NOW winter nights enlarge 
The number of their hours, 
And clouds their storms discharge 
Upon the airy towers. 
Let now the chimneys blaze. 
And cups o'erflow with wine ; 
Let well-tuned words amaze 
With harmony divine. 



[56] 



41 



WINTER 

SYNE Wjmter wan, quhen austern Eolus, i 

God of the wynd, with blastis boreall, \ 

The gi-ene garment of somer glorious 

Hes all to rent and revin in pecis small ; \ 

Than flouris fair, faidit with frost, mon fall. 
And birdis blyith changit thair noitis sweit 
In still murning, neir slane with snaw and sleit. 



[57] 



42 



THE CHANGES OF LIFE 

YISTERDAY fair sprang the flowris. 
This day thai ar all slane with schouris ; 
And foulis in forrest that sang cleir, 
Now walkis with ane drerie cheir, 
Full cauld ar ba)i:h thair beddis and bouris. 

So nixt to symmer, wynter bene ; 

Nixt eftir confort, cairis keine ; 

Nixt eftir myd nycht, the myrthfull morrow; 

Nixt eftir joy, ay cumis sorrow: 

So is this warld, and ay hes bene. 



158] 



43 



GRAY HAIRS 

MY lustes they do me leeue, 
My fansies all be fledde : 
And tract of time begins to weaue. 
Gray heares vpon my hedde. 

For age with stelyng steppes, 
Hath clawed me with his cowche ; 
And lusty life away she leapes, 
As there had bene none such. 



[59] 



44 



TIME'S WINGED CHARIOT 

AT my back I always hear 
Time's winged chariot hmrying near ; 
And yonder all before us he 
Deserts of vast eternity. 



[60] 



45 



OH CRUEL TIME! 

OH cruel Time ! which takes in trust 
Our youth, our joys, and all we have, 
And pays us but with age and dust ; 
Who in the dark and silent grave, 
When we have wander'd all our ways. 
Shuts up the story of our days. 



161] 



46 



WHERE ? 



WHERE is Paris and Heleyne 
That weren so bright and fair of blee 
Amadas, Tristan, and Iddyne 
Yseude and alle the, 
Hector with his sharpe main. 
And Cagsar rich in worldes fee ? 
They beth yghden out of the reign 
As the shaft is of the clee. 



[62] 



47 



THE DEATH-SONG OF OSSIAN 

SUCH were the words of the bards in the 
days of song : when the king heard the 
music of harps, the tales of other times ! The 
chiefs gathered from all their hills, and heard 
the lovely sound. They praised the Voice of 
Cona! The first among a thousand bards! 
But age is now on my tongue ; my soul has 
failed 1 I hear, at times, the ghosts of the 
bards, and learn their pleasant song. But 
memory fails on my mind. I hear the call of 
years 1 They say, as they pass along, why 
does Ossian sing? Soon shall he lie in the 
narrow house, and no bard shall raise his 
fame I Roll on, ye dark-brown years ; ye 
bring no joy on your course ! Let the tomb 
open to Ossian, for his strength has failed. 
The sons of song are gone to rest. My voice 
remains, like a blast, that roars, lonely, on a 
sea-surrounded rock, after the winds are laid. 
The dark moss whistles there; the distant 
mariner sees the waving trees ! 

[63 J 



48 



DEATH 

ONTO the ded gois all Estatis, 
Princis, Prelotis, and Potestatis, 
Baith riche et pur of all degre ; 
Timor Mortis conturbat me. 

He takis the knychtis in to feild, 
Anarmit vnder helme et scheild ; 
Wictour he is at all melle ; 
Timor Mortis contm-bat me. 

That Strang vnmereifull tyrand 
Tak[is] on the moderis breist sowkand 
The bab, full of benignite ; 
Timor Mortis conturbat me. 

He takis the campion in the stour, 
The capitane closit in the tour, 
The lady in hour full of bewte ; 
Timor Mortis conturbat me. 

[64] 



49 



DEATH'S SUMMONS 

BEAUTY is but a flower. 
Which wrinkles will devour : 
Brightness falls from the air ; 
Queens have died young and fair ; 
Dust hath closed Helen's eye ; 
I am sick, I must die. 

Lord have mercy on us I 

Strength stoops unto the grave : 
Worms feed on Hector brave ; 
Swords may not fight with fate : 
Earth still holds ope her gate. 
Come, come, the bells do cry ; 
I am sick, I must die. 

Lord have mercy on us 1 



[60 



50 



DYING 

OTHE sad day I 
When friends shall shake then* heads, 
and say 

Of miserable me — 

" Hark, how he groans I 

Look, how he pants for breath ! 

See how he struggles with the pangs of death !" 

When they shall say of these dear eyes — 

" How hollow, O how dim they be ! 

Mark how his breast doth rise and swell 

Against his potent enemy ! " 

When some old friend shall step to my bed- 
side. 

Touch my chill face, and thence shall gently 
sUde, 

But — when his next companions say 

" How does he do ? What hopes ? " — shall 
turn away. 

Answering only, with a lift-up hand — 

" Who can his fate withstand ? " 

Then shall a gasp or two do more 
Than e'er my rhetoric could before : 
Persuade the world to trouble me no more I 

[66] 



51 



THE DEATH OF CHARLES 



IP 



nothing common did or mean, 
Upon that memorable scene, 

But with his keener eye 

The axe's edge did trye ; 



Nor called the gods, with \^gar spight. 
To vindicate his helplesse right ; 

But bowed his comely head 

Downe, as upon a bed. 



[67] 



52 



THE END 

OMORTALL folke! you may beholde 
and se 
Howe I lye here, sometime a myghty knyght ; 
The end of joye and all prosperite 
Is deth at last, through his course and myght ; 
After the day there cometh the derke night ; 
For though the day be never so longe. 
At last the belles ringeth to evensonge. 



[68] 



53 



DEATH 

DEATH, be not proud, though some have 
called thee 
Mightie and dreadfull, for thou art not soe ; 
For those whom thou think'st thou dost over- 

throwe 
Dye not, poore Death ; not yet canst thou kill 

mee. 
From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures 

bee. 
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more 

must flowe : 
And soonest oUr best men doe with thee goe. 
Rest of their bones, and soules' deliverie. 
Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, Kings, and 

desperate men. 
And dost with poyson, warr, and sicknes 

dwell. 
And poppie or charmes can make us sleep as 

well, 

[69] 



And better then thy stroke ; why swell'st thou 

then ? 
One short sleepe past, we wake eternally, 
And Death shalbe no more : Death, thou shalt 

dye. 



[70] 



54 



BEYOND 

DEAR, beauteous Death ! the jewel of the 
just, 
Shining no where, but in the dark ; 
What mysteries do he beyond thy dust ; 
Could man outlook that mark 1 

He that hath found some fledg'd bird's nest, 

may know 
At first sight, if the bird be flown ; 
But what fair well or grove he sings in now, 
That is to him unknown. 

And yet, as angels in some brighter dreams 

Call to the soul, when man doth sleep ; 

So some strange thoughts transcend our 

wonted theams. 
And into glory peep. 



[71] 



55 



THE LORD DESCENDED FROM 
ABOVE 

THE Lord descended from above. 
And bowde the heavens high ; 
And underneath his feet he cast 
The darknesse of the skie. 

On Cherubs and on Cherubims 
Full roiaUie he rode ; 
And on the winges of all the windes 
Came flying all abrode. 



[72] 



56 



OBEY AND THANK THY GOD 

ALLONE as I went up and doun 
In ane Abbay was fair to se, 
Thinkand quhat consolatioun 
Was best in-to adversitie ; 
On caiss I kest on syd myne d. 
And saw this written upoim a wall, 

Of quhat estait, Man, that thow be. 
Obey, and thank thy God of all. 



[73] 



57 



THE GUEST 

YET if His Majesty, our sovereign lord, 
Should of his own accord 
Friendly himself invite. 

And say, " I '11 be your guest to-morrow night," 
How should we stir ourselves, call and com- 
mand 
All hands to work! " Let no man idle standi 

" Set me fine Spanish tables in the hall ; 

See they be fitted all ; 

Let there be room to eat 

And order taken that there want no meat. 

See every sconce and candlestick made bright, 

That without tapers they may give a light. 

" Look to the presence : are the carpets spread, 

The dazie o'er the head. 

The cushions in the chairs. 

And all the candles hghted on the stairs? 

Perfume the chambers, and in any case 

Let each man give attendance in his place!" 

[74] 



Thus, if a king were coming, would we do ; 

And 't were good reason too ; 

For 't is a duteous thing 

To show all honour to an earthly king. 

And after all our travail and our cost. 

So he be pleased, to think no labour lost. 

But at the coming of the King of Heaven 

All 's set at six and seven ; 

We wallow in our sin, 

Christ cannot find a chamber in the inn. 

We entertain Him always Uke a stranger. 

And, as at first, still lodge Him in the manger. 



75] 



58 



JOHN THE BAPTIST 

THE last and greatest Herald of Heaven's 
King, 
Girt with rough skins, hies to the deserts wild. 
Among that savage brood the woods forth 

bring. 
Which he than man more harmless found and 

mild. 
His food was locusts, and what young doth 

spring 
With honey that from virgin hives distill'd ; 
Parch'd body, hollow eyes, some uncouth thing 
Made him appear, long since from earth exiled. 
There burst he forth: "AU ye, whose hopes 

rely 
On God, with me amidst these deserts mourn ; 
Repent, repent, and from old errors turn ! " 
Who Usten'd to his voice, obey'd his cry? 
Only the echoes, which he made relent, 
Rung from their marble caves "Repent! 

Repent!" 

[761 



59 



THE PASSING OF KING ARTHUR 

"/^ GOE againe," then said the kinge, 
v/ " O good sir Lukyn, goe againe: 

Into the rivere throwe my sword. 

Nor keepe me lingering here in paine." 

The duke then to the river went, 

And the kings seabberd in threwe hee ; 

But hee kept baeke Excahbar, 
And hid it undemethe a tree. 

Then backe he came to tell the kinge, 

Who sayde, " Sir Lukjnn, sawe ye oughte? " 

" Nothinge, my liege, save that the winde 
Nowe with the angrye waters fought." 

" O Lukyn, Lukyn," said the kinge, 
" Twice haste thou dealt deceytfullye: 

Alacke, whom may wee ever truste, 
When suche a knighte soe false can bee ? 

[77] 



" Saye, wouldst thou have thy master dead. 
All for a sword, that wins thine eye? 

Nowe goe againe, and throwe it in. 
Or here the one of us shall dye." 

The duke, all shent with this rebuke. 
No aunswere made unto the kinge; 

But to the rivere tooke the sworde. 
And threwe it far as he coulde flinge. 

A hande and an arme did meete the sworde. 
And flourished three times in the air ; 

Then simke benethe the renninge streme. 
And of the duke was seene noe mair. 

AU sore astonied stood the duke ; 

He stood as stiU, as still mote bee: 
Then hastend backe to teUe the kinge ; 

But he was gone from under the tree. 

But to what place he could not tell. 
For never after hee did him spye: 

But hee sawe a barge goe from the land. 
And hee heard ladyes howle and crye. 

And whether the kinge were there, or not, 
Hee never knewe, nor ever colde : 

For from that sad and direfulle daye, 
Hee never more was seene on molde. 



[78] 



60 



MARGRET FOLLOWS SWEET 
WILLIAM'S GHOST 

NOW she has kilted her robes of green, 
A piece below her knee : 
And a' the live-lang winter night 
The dead corps followed shee. 

"Is there any room at your head, Willie ? 
Or any room at your feet ? 
Or any room at yom* side, Willie, 
Wherein that I may creep ? " 

" There 's nae room at my head, Margret, 
There 's nae room at my feet. 
There 's no room at my side, Margret, 
My coffin is made so meet." 

Then up and crew the red red cock. 
And up then crew the gray : 
" Tis time, tis time, my dear Margret, 
That [I] were gane away." 

[79] 



No more the ghost to Margret said, 
But, with a grievous grone, 
Evanish'd in a cloud of mist. 
And left her all alone. 



[80] 



61 



HELEN OF KIRCONNELL 

I WISH I were where Helen lies. 
Night and day on me she cries ; 
O that I were where Helen lies, 
On fair Kirconnell lea ! 

Curst be the heart that thought the thought. 
And curst the hand that fired the shot. 
When in my arms burd Helen dropt. 
And died to succour me I 

think na ye my heart was sair. 

When my Love dropp'd and spak nae mair I 
There did she swoon wi' meikle care, 
On fair Ejrconnell lea. 

As 1 went down the water side. 
None but my foe to be my guide, 
None but my foe to be my guide, 
On fair Kirconnell lea ; 

1 lighted down my sword to draw, 
I hacked him in pieces sma', 

I hacked him in pieces sma'. 
For her sake that died for me. 

« [81] 



Helen fair, beyond compare I 

1 '11 mak a garland o' thy hair, 
Shall bind my heart for evermair, 

Until the day I die I 

O that I were where Helen lies I 
Night and day on me she cries ; 
Out of my bed she bids me rise. 
Says, " Haste, and come to me ! " 

Helen fair I O Helen chaste 1 
If T were with thee, I 'd be blest. 
Where thou lies low and taks thy rest, 

On fair Kirconnell lea. 

1 wish my grave were growing green, 
A winding-sheet drawn owre my e'en. 
And I in Helen's arms lying. 

On fair Kirconnell lea. 

I wish I were where Helen Ues ! 
Night and day on me she cries ; 
And I am weary of the skies, 
For her sake that died for me. 



[82} 



62 



WALY, WALY 

OWALY, waly, up the bank. 
And waly, waly, doun the brae, 
And waly, waly, yon burn-side. 

Where I and my Love wont to gae I 
I lean'd my back unto an aik, 

1 thocht it was a trustie tree ; 
But first it bow'd and syne it brak — 
Sae my true love did lichthe me. 

O waly, waly, gin love be bonnie 

A little time while it is new I 
But when 't is auld it waxeth cauld. 

And fades awa' Uke morning dew. 
O wherefore should I busk my heid. 

Or wherefore should I kame my hair? 
For my true Love has me forsook. 

And says he '11 never lo'e me mair. 

[83] 



Now Arthur's Seat sail be my bed, 
The sheets sail ne'er be 'filed by me ; 

Saint Anton's well sail be my drink ; 
Since my true Love has forsaken me. 

Marti'mas wind, when wilt thou blaw, 
And shake the green leaves afF the tree ? 

gentle Death, when wilt thou come ? 
For of my life I am wearie. 

'T is not the frost, that freezes fell, 

Nor blawing snaw's inclemencie, 
'T is not sic cauld that makes me cry ; 

But my Love's heart grown cauld to me. 
When we cam in by Glasgow toun, 

We were a comely sicht to see ; 
My Love was clad in the black velvet, 

And I mysel in cramasie. 

But had I wist, before I kist. 

That love had been sae ill to win, 

1 had lock'd my heart in a case o' gowd, 
And pinn'd it wi' a siller pin. 

And O ! if my young babe were bom. 
And set upon the nurse's knee ; 

And I mysel were dead and gane, 

And the green grass growing over me I 



[84] 



63 



THE TWA CORBIES 

AS I was walking all alane 
I heard twa corbies making a mane : 
The tane unto the tither did say, 
" Whar sail we gang and dine the day? " 

" — In behint yon auld fail dyke 
I wot there lies a new-slain knight ; 
And naebody kens that he Ues there 
But his hawk, his hound, and his lady fair. 

" His hound is to the hunting gane. 
His hawk to fetch the wild-fowl hame. 
His lady 's ta'en anither mate, 
So we may mak our dinner sweet. 

" Ye '11 sit on his white hause-bane. 
And I '11 pike out his bonny blue e'en : 
Wi' ae lock o' his gowden hair 
We '11 theek our nest when it grows bare. 

" Mony a one for him maks mane. 
But nane sail ken whar he is gane : 
O'er his white banes, when they are bare, 
The wind sail blaw for evermair." 

[85] 



64 



THE CASTLE RUINS 

THE grey cock gat up an' flappit his wings, 
An' lud an' haul cru he, 
The blythe morn glynted owr the hill tap. 
An' the birds sang merrihe. 

Bat that mom schaw'd a feerfu' sicht. 
As ever man did see. 
For the castel wa' was blak as sect, 
An' the reef was the heven's hie. 

Nae livin' thing in that castel. 

Saw mornin' light agen, 

Ther was naething left bat the blak chymnes, 

An' wa's o' blak brent stane. 

Lang has the castel bleecht i' the win, 
Yet quhiter it winna be. 
Bat the wyld flours bla' on the reefless wa', 
An' corbies build ther seyrie. 



[86] 



65 



A LYKE-WAKE DIRGE 

THIS ae nighte, this ae nighte, 
— Every nighte and alle. 
Fire and sleet and eandle-lighte, 
And Christe receive thy saule. 

When thou from hence away art past, 

— Every nighte and alle, 

To Whinny-muir thou com'st at last ; 
And Christe receive thy saule. 

If ever thou gavest hosen and shoon, 

— Every nighte and alle. 

Sit thee down and put them on ; 
And Christe receive thy saule. 

If hosen and shoon thou ne'er gav'st nane, 

— Every nighte and alle. 

The whinnes sail prick thee to the bare bane ; 
And Christe receive thy saule, 

[87] 



From Whinny-niuir when thou may'st pass, 

— Every nighte and alle. 

To Brig o' Dread thou cora'st at last ; 
And Christe receive thy saule. 

From Brig o' Dread when thou may'st pass, 
— Every nighte and alle, 
To Purgatory fire thou com'st at last ; 
And Christe receive thy saule. 

If ever thou gavest meat or drink, 

— Every nighte and alle. 

The fire sail never make thee shrink ; 
And Christe receive thy saule. 

If meat or drink thou ne'er gav'st nane, 

— Every nighte and alle. 

The fire will burn thee to the bare bane ; 
And Christe receive thy saule. 

This ae nighte, this ae nighte, 

— Every nighte and alle. 

Fire and sleet and candle-lighte, 
And Christe receive thy saule. 



[88] 



66 



A CHRISTMAS CAROL 

I SING of a maiden 
That is makeles ; 
King of all kings 
To her son she ches. 

He came al so still 
There his mother was. 
As dew in April 
That falleth on the grass. 

He came al so stiU 
To his mother's hour, 
As dew in April 
That falleth on the flour. 

He came al so still 
There his mother lay. 
As dew in April 
That falleth on the spray. 

[89] 



Mother and maiden 
Was never none but she ; 
Well may such a lady 
Goddes mother be. 



90 



67 



THE BRIDE'S GOOD-MORROW 

THE night is passed, & ioyfull day ap- 
peareth 
most cleare on every side ; 
With pleasant musiek we therefore salute you, 

good morrow, Mistris Bride ! 
From sleepe and slumber now awake you out 
of hand : 
your bridegroome stayeth at home, 
Whose fancy, favour & affection still doth stand 

fixed on thee alone : 
Dresse you in your best array. 
This must be your wedding day, 

God almighty send you happy ioy. 
In health and wealth to keep you still ; 
And, if it be his blessed will, 

God keepe you safe from sorrow and annoy ! 

[91] 



This day is honour now brought into thy 
bosome, 
and comfort to thy heart : 
For God hath sent you a friend for to defend 
you 
from sorrow, care, and smart; 
In health and sicknes, for thy comfort day & 
night 
he is appointed and brought 
Whose love and Uking is most constant, sure, 
and right : 
then love ye him as ye ought. 
Now you have your hearts desire. 
And the thing you did require. 

God almighty send you happy ioy. 
In health and wealth to keepe you still ; 
And, if it be his blessed will, 

God keepe you safe from sorrow and annoy ! 



[92] 



68 



NUPTIAL SONG 

PACK clouds away, and welcome day, 
With night we banish sorrow : 
Sweet ayre blow soft, mount Larks aloft. 

To give my love good morrow. 
Wings from the wind to please her mind. 

Notes from the Larke lie borrow : 
Bird prune thy wing. Nightingale sing. 
To give my love good morrow. 
To give my love good morrow, 
Notes from them both He borrow. 

Wake from thy nest Robin red brest. 

Sing birds in ev'ry furrow : 
And from each Bill let musick shrill 

Give my faire love good morrow. 
Blackbird and Thrush, in every bush. 

Stare, Linet and Cock-sparrow : 
You pretty Elves, amongst your selves, 

Sing my faire love good morrow. 
To give my love good morrow. 
Sing Birds in every furrow. 

[93] 



WAYWORN UNA 

ONE day, nigh wearie of the yrkesome way. 
From her imhastie beast she did aUght ; 
And on the grasse her dainty Umbs did lay 
In secrete shadow, far from all mens sight ; 
From her fayre head her fillet she imdight, 
And layd her stole aside : Her angels face. 
As the great eye of heaven, shyned bright. 
And make a sunshine in the shady place. 



[94] 



1 



70 



THE SLEEPING NYMPH 

HER golden hair o'erspred her face ; 
Her careless arms abroad were cast ; 
Her quiver had her pillow's place ; 
Her breast lay bare to every blast 



[95] 



71 



FAIR ANNEX'S PALFREY 

THE horse Fair Annet rade upon. 
He amblit like the wind ; 
Wi' siller he was shod before, 
Wi' burning gowd behind. 

Four and twanty siller bells 
War a' tyed till his mane. 
And yae tift o' the norland wind, 
They tinkled ane by ane. 



[96] 



72 



THE BABES IN THE WOOD 

THESE pretty babes, with hand in hand. 
Went wandering up and downe ; 
But never more could see the man 

Approaching from the towne : 
Their prettye hppes with black-berries, 

Were all besmear'd and dyed, 
And when they sawe the darksome night. 
They sat them downe and cryed. 



[97] 



73 



KING OBERON'S APPAREL 

THE outside of his doublet was 
Made of the four-leaved true-love grass ; 
On which was set so fine a gloss, 
By the oil of crispy moss, 
That through a mist, and starry light. 
It made a rainbow every night. 
On every seam, there was a lace. 
Drawn by the unctuous snail's slow trace ; 
To it, the purest silver thread 
Compared, did look like dull pale lead. 
Each button was a sparkling eye 
Ta'en from the speckled adder's fry ; 
Which in a gloomy night and dark. 
Twinkled Hke a fiery spark. 
And for coolness, next his skin 
'T was with white poppy lined within. 
His breeches, of that fleece were wrought. 
Which from Colchus, Jason brought ; 
Spun into so fine a yarn. 
That mortals might it not discern ; 

[98] 



Woven by Arachne in her loom, 
Last before she had her doom ; 
Dyed crimson with a maiden's blush. 
And lined with dandely on plush. 



His cap was all of " lady's love " 
So passing light, that it did move 
If any humming gnat or fly 
But buzzed the air, in passing by. 

The sword they girded on his thigh. 
Was smallest blade of finest rye. 

His belt was made of myrtle leaves 
Plaited in small curious threaves ; 
Beset with amber cowsUp studs. 
And fringed about with daisy buds. 
In which his bugle horn was hung 
Made of the babbling Echo's tongue. 



[99] 



l.cfC. 



74 



THE CHURCH COURTS AND THE 
GRAY MARE 

MARIE ! I lent my gossop my mear, to 
fetch hame coills, 
And he hir drounit into the Querrell hollis ; 
And I ran to the Consistorie, for to pleinze. 
And thair I happinit amang ane greidie meinze. 
Thay gave me first ane thing, thay call Citen- 

dum; 
Within aucht dayis, I gat hot Lybellandum, 
Within ane moneth, I gat ad Opponendum, 
In half ane yeir, I gat Inter hquendum. 
And syne I gat, how call ye it ? ad RepUcan- 

dum: 
But I could never ane word yit understand 

him. 
And than thay gart me cast out many plackis. 
And gart me pay for four-and-twentie actis : 

[100] 



Bot or they came half gate to Concludendum, 
The feind a placke was left far to defend him : 
Thus, thay postponit me twa yeu* with their 

traine, 
Syne, Hodie ad octo, bad me cum againe : 
And than, thir ruiks, thay roupit wonder fast. 
For sentence silver thay cryit at the last. 
Of Pronunciandum, they maid me wonder 

faine; 
But I got nevir my gude gray meir againe. 



[101] 



75 



FOR THEM WOULD KNOW TOO 
MUCH 

/T was demanded once. What God did doe 
Before the world he framed ? Whereunto 
Answer e was made. He built a Hell for such 
As are too curious, and would know too 
much. 



[109] 



76 



TO HANG OR TO MARRY 

TRULY some men there be, 
That live always in great horrour, 
And say, it goeth by destiny 
To hang or wed : both hath one hour. 
And, whether it be, I am well sure. 
Hanging is better of the twain ; 
Sooner done, and shorter pain. 



[103] 



77 



UNASHAMED 

IF great Apollo offer'd as a dower 
His burning throne to Beauty's excellence, 
If Jove himself came in a golden shower 
Down to the earth, to fetch fair lo thence, 
If Venus in the curled locks was tied 
Of proud Adonis, not of gentle kind. 
If Tellus for a shepherd's favour died 
(The favour cruel Love to her assign'd). 
If heaven's winged herald Hermes had 
His heart enchanted with a coimtry maid, 
If poor PygmaUon was for Beauty mad, 
If gods and men have all for Beauty stray 'd, — 
I am not then ashamed to be included 
'Mongst those that love and be with love 
deluded. 



[104] 



78 



FORGET NOT 

FORGET not yet the tried intent 
Of such a truth as I have meant ; 
My great travail so gladly spent, 
Forget not yet 1 

Forget not yet when first began 
The weary life ye know, since whan 
The suit, the service none tell can ; 
Forget not yet ! 

Forget not yet the great assays, 
The cruel wrong, the scornful ways. 
The painful patience in delays. 
Forget not yet 1 

Forget not ! oh I forget not this, 
How long ago hath been, and is 
The mind that never meant amiss 
Forget not yet ! 

[105] 



Forget not then thine own approved. 
The which so long hath thee so lov'd. 
Whose steadfast faith yet never mov'd 
Forget not this ! 



[106] 



79 



FAREWELL 

WHAT should I say ? 
Since Faith is dead. 
And Truth away 
From you is fled ? 
Should I be led 
With doubleness? 
Nay! nay I Mistress. 

I promis'd you, 
And you promis'd me. 
To be as true. 
As I would be. 
But since I see 
Your double heart. 
Farewell my part 1 

[lOT] 



Thought for to take. 
It is not my mind ; 
But to forsake 
[One so unkind ;] 
And as I find. 
So will I trust; 
Farewel, unjust 1 

Can ye say nay. 
But that you said 
That I alway 
Should be obey'd? 
And thus betray 'd. 
Or that I wist I 
Farewell, unkist ! 



[108] 



80 



FAREWELL 

DEPART, depart, depart ! 
Alace! I must depart 
From her that has my heart, 

With heart full soir! 
Against my will indeed, 
And can find no remeid — 
I wot the pains of deid 
Can do no moir. 

Now must I go, alace I 
From sight of her sweet face. 
The ground of all my grace. 

And sovereign ; 
What chance that may fall me 
Sail I never merry be, 
Unto the time I see 

My sweet again. 

[ 109 ] 



I go, and wot not where, 
I wander here and there, 
I weep and sich right sair, 

With panes smart: 
Now must 1 pass away, away. 
In wilderness and wildsome way 
Alace ! this woful day 

We should depart ! 



My spirit does quake for dreid, 
My thirled heart does bleed, 
My panes does exceed : 

What should I say? 
I, woful wight, alone, 
Makand ane piteous moan ; 
Alace! my heart is gone. 

For ever and ay I 



Through languor of my sweet. 
So thirled is my spreit, 
My days are most complete. 

Through her absence: 
Christ, sen she knew my smart, 
Ingraven in my heart. 
Because I must depart 

From her presence ! 

[110] 



Adieu, my own sweet thing, 
My joy and comforting, 
My mirth and solaceing 

Of earthly gloir ! 
Farewell, my lady bright, 
And my remembrance right. 
Farewell, and have good night 

I say no moir. 



[Ill] 



81 



THE FAITHFUL LOVER 

AND so determine I to serve until my 
breath ; 
Yea, rather die a thousand times, than once to 

false my faith. 
And if my feeble corpse, through weight of 

woful smart 
Do fail, or faint, my will it is that still she 

keep my heart. 
And when this carcase here to earth shall be 

refar'd, 
I do bequeath my wearied ghost to serve her 

afterward. 



[112] 



82 



THE MOONE 

WITH how sad steps, O Moone, thou 
cUm'st the skies 1 
How silently, and with how wanne a face I 
What, may it be that euen in heau'nly place 
That busie archer his sharpe arrowes tries ! 
Sure, if that long-with-loue-acquainted eyes 
Can iudge of loue, thou feel'st a loner's case, 
I reade it in thy lookes ; thy languisht grace, 
To me, that feele the like, thy state discries. 
Then, eu'n of fellowship, O Moone, tell me. 
Is constant loue deem'd there but want of wit ? 
Are beauties there as proud as here they be ? 
Do they aboue loue to be lou d, and yet 
Those loners scorne whom that loue doth 

possesse ? 
Doe they call vertue there vngratefulnesse ? 



[113] 



83 



THOU, WHOSE SWEET ELOQUENCE 
DOTH MAKE ME MUTE 

THOU, whose sweet eloquence doth make 
me mute ; 
Whose sight doth blind me, & whose 
nimbleness 
Of feet in dance, and fingers on the Lute, 
In deep amazes makes mee motion-lesse : 
Whose only presence from my selfe absents 
mee ; 
Whose pleasant humors makes mee pas- 
sionate ; 
Whose sober moods my foUies represent mee : 
Whose grave-milde graces make mee em- 
ulate ; 
My heart, through whom my heart is none of 
mine: 
My All, through whom, 1 nothing doe 
possesse, 
Save thine Idcea, glorious and divine : 

[114] 



O thou my Peace-like War, and War-like 

Peace, 
So much the wounds that thou hast given 

mee please, 
That 't is my best ease never to have ease. 



[115] 



84 



WERE I AS BASE AS IS THE 
LOWLY PLAYNE 

WERE I as base as is the lowly plajme. 
And you (my Loue) as high as heau'n 
aboue. 
Yet should the thoughts of me your humble 

swaine, 
Ascend to Heauen in honour of my Loue. 
Were I as highe as Heau'n aboue the playne. 
And you (my Loue) as humble and as low 
As are the deepest bottoms of the Mayne, 
Whereso 'ere you were, with you my Loue 

should go. 
Were you the Earth (deere Loue) and I the 

skies, 
My loue should shine on you like to the Sun, 
And looke vpon you with ten thousand Eyes, 
Till heau'n wax't, and till the world were dun. 
Whereso 'ere I am, below, or els aboue you, 
Whereso 'ere you are, my hart shal truly loue 

you. 

[116] 



85 



WHEN THE WORLD BEGANNE 

THE Poets fayne that when the world 
beganne, 
Both sexes in one body did remaine : 
Till loue (offended with this double man) 
Causd Vulcan to diuide him into twaine. 
In this diuision, he the hart did seuer, 
But cunningly he did indent the hart, 
That if there were a reuniting euer. 
Each part might know which was his counter- 
part. 
See then (deere loue) th' Indenture of my 

hart, 
And reade the Cou nants writ with holy fire : 
See (if your hart be not the counterpart. 
Of my true harts indented chast desire.) 
And, if it bee, so may it euer bee, 
Twoo harts in one, twixt you my Loue and 
mee. 



[117] 



86 



THE SOUL'S ERRAND 

GO, Soul, the body's guest. 
Upon a thankless arrant : 
Fear not to touch the best ; 
The truth shall be thy warrant : 
Go, since I needs must die. 
And give the world the lie. 

Say to the Court, it glows 
And shines like rotten wood ; 
Say to the Church, it shows 
What 's good, and doth no good 
If Church and Court reply. 
Then give them both the lie. 

Tell zeal it wants devotion ; 
Tell love it is but lust ; 
Tell time it metes but motion ; 
Tell flesh it is but dust : 
And wish them not reply. 
For thou must give the He. 

[118] 



Tell age it daily wasteth ; 
Tell honour how it alters ; 
Tell beauty how she blasteth ; 
Tell favour how it falters : 
And as they shall reply, 
Give every one the lie. 

Tell fortune of her blindness ; 

Tell nature of decay ; 

Tell friendship of unkindness ; 

Tell justice of delay : 

And if they will reply, 

Then give them all the lie. 



[119] 



87 



THE LIFE OF MAN 

THE World 's a bubble ; and the life of 
man 

Lesse then a span. 
In his conception wretched ; from the wombe, 

so to the tombe : 
Curst from the cradle, and brought vp to 
yeares, 

With cares and feares. 
Who then to fraile Mortality shall trust, 
But Ummes the water, or but writes in dust. 

Yet, since with sorrow here we liue opprest. 

What life is best? 
Courts are but onely superficial Scholes 

to dandle fooles : 
The rurall parts are turn'd into a den 

of sauage men : 
And where 's a city from all vice so free. 
But may be term'd the worst of all the three ? 

[120] 



Domesticke cares afflict the husband's bed, 

or paines, his head : 
Those that hue single, take it for a curse, 

or doe things worse : 
Some would haue children ; those that haue 
them none ; 

or wish them gone. 
What is it then to haue or haue no wife, 
But single thraldome or a double strife ? 

Our own affections still at home to please, 

is a disease : 
To crosse the sea to any foreine soyle, 

perills and toyle : 
Warres with their noyse affright vs : when 
they cease, 

W are worse in peace : 
What then remaines, but that we still should 

cry. 
Not to be borne, or being borne, to dye. 



[m] 



88 



THIS LIFE 



THIS life, which seems so fair, 
Is like a bubble blown up in the air, 
By sporting children's breath, 
Who chase it everywhere. 
And strive who can most motion it bequeath : 
And though it sometime seem of its own 

might, 
Like to an eye of gold, to be fix'd there, 
And firm to hover in that empty height. 
That only is because it is so light. 
But in that pomp it doth not long appear ; 
For even when most admir'd, it in a thought. 
As swell'd from nothing, doth dissolve in 

nought. 



[122] 



89 



CHILDHOOD RECALLED 



HAPPY those early dayes, when I 
Shin'd in my angell-mfancy ! 
Before I understood this place 
Appointed for my second race. 
Or taught my soul to fancy ought 
But a white, celestiall thought ; 
When yet 1 had not walkt above 
A mile or two from my first love, 
And looking back — at that short space 
Could see a glimpse of His bright-face ; 
When on some gilded cloud, or flowre 
My gazing soul would dwell an houre, 
And in those weaker glories spy 
Some shadows of eternity ; 
Before I taught my tongue to wound 
My conscience with a sinfull sound, 

[123] 



Or had the black art to dispence 
A sev'rall sinne to ev'ry sence, 
But felt through all this fleshly dresse 
Bright shootes of everlastingnesse. 

II 
I cannot reach it ; and my striving eye 
Dazles at it, as at eternity. 



[124] 



90 



TIMES GO BY TURNS 

THE lopped tree in time may grow again, 
Most naked plants renew both fruit and 
flower ; 
The sorest wight may find release of pain, 
The driest soil suck in some moist'ning shower ; 
Times go by turns and chances change by 

course. 
From foul to fair, from better hap to worse. 

The sea of Fortune doth not ever flow. 
She draws her favours to the lowest ebb ; 
Her time hath equal times to come and go, 
Her loom doth weave the fine and coarsest 

web; 
No joy so great but runneth to an end. 
No hap so hard but may in fine amend. 

[125] 



Not always fall of leaf nor ever spring, 
No endless night yet not eternal day ; 
The saddest birds a season find to sing. 
The roughest storm a calm may soon allay : 
Thus with succeeding turns God tempereth all. 
That man may hope to rise, yet fear to fall. 

A chance may win that by mischance was lost ; 
The net that holds no great, takes little fish ; 
In some things all, in all things none are crost. 
Few all they need, but none have all they wish ; 
Unmeddled joys here to no man befall : 
Who least, hath some ; who most, hath never 
all. 



[m] 



91 



IN GRACE'S COURT 

I DWELL in Grace's Court, 
Enriched with Virtue s rights : 
Faith guides my wit 1 Love leads my will 1 
Hope, aU my mind delights ! 

My Conscience is my crown ! 
Contented thoughts, my rest 1 
My heart is happy in itself; 
My bliss is in my breast ! 

I clip high-climbing thoughts, 

The wings of swelling pride 1 

Their fall is worst, that from the height 

Of greatest honour slide 1 

• ••••• ■ 

No change of Fortune's calms 
Can cast my comforts down ! 
When Fortune smiles, I smile to think 
How quickly she will frown I 

[127] 



And when, in froward mood. 
She proves an angry foe. 
Small gain I found to let her come ; 
Less loss to let her go ! 



[128] 



92 



THE RICHES OF THE QUIET MIND 

MY mind to me a kingdom is : 
Such present joys therein I find 
That it excels all other bliss 

That earth affords or grows by kind : 
Though much I want which most would have, 
Yet still my mind forbids to crave. 
• •••••• • 

Some have too much, yet still do crave ; 

I Uttle have, and seek no more : 
They are but poor, though much they have ; 

And I am rich with Uttle store : 
They poor, I rich ; they beg, I give ; 
They lack, I leave ; they pine, I live. 

I laugh not at another's loss, 

I grudge not at another's gain ; 
No worldly waves my mind can toss ; 

My state at one doth still remain : 
I fear no foe, I fawn no friend ; 
I loathe not life, nor dread my end. 

» [129] 



Some weigh their pleasure by their lust. 
Their wisdom by their rage of will ; 

Their treasure is their only trust, 
A cloaked craft their store of skill : 

But all the pleasure that I find 

Is to maintain a quiet mind. 



[130] 



93 



THE QUIET MINDE 

WHEN all is doen and saied, in the ende 
thus shall you finde, 
The most of all doeth bath in bUsse, that hath 
a quiet minde : 



Our wealth leaues vs at death, our kinsmen 

at the graue, 
But vertues of the mynde vnto the heauens 

with vs we haue. 



[1311 



94 



THE LASTING GOOD 

THOU must not undervalue what thou hast. 
In weighing it with that which more is 

graced ; 
The worth that weigheth inward should not 

long 
For outward prices. This should make thee 

strong 
In thy close value : nought so good can be 
As that which lasts good betwixt God and 

thee. 



[132] 



95 



THE HAPPY MAN 

HOW happy is he bom and taught 
That serveth not another's will ; 
Whose armour is his honest thought, 
And simple truth his utmost skill 1 

Whose passions not his masters are ; 
Whose soul is still prepared for death. 
Untied unto the world by care 
Of pubhc fame or private breath ; 

This man is freed from servile bands 
Of hope to rise or fear to fall : 
Lord of himself, though not of lands. 
And having nothing, yet hath all. 



[133] 



96 



CONTENT 



SELDOM it comes, to few from heaven 
sent. 
That much in Uttle, all in nought, — Content 



[134] 



97 



GRASS AND FLOWERS 

WE trample grass, and prize the flowers of 
May; 
Yet grass is green when flowers do fade away. 



[13S] 



98 



THE USE OF KNOWLEDGE 

THE chiefe vse then in man of that he 
knowes, 
Is his paines-taking for the good of all ; 
Not fleshly weeping for our owne made woes, 
Not laughing from a melancholy gall. 
Not hating from a soule that ouerflowes 
With bitternesse, breath'd out from inward 
thrall: 
* But sweetly rather to ease, loose, or binde, 
' As needs requires, this fraile fall'n humane 
kinde. 



[136] 



99 



THE NOBLE HEART 

THE noble hart that harbours vertuous 
thought, 
And is with childe of glorious great intent, 
Can never rest untill it forth have brought 
Th' eternall brood of glorie excellent. 



[137] 



100 



CROMWELL 

SO restlesse Cromwell could not cease 
In the inglorious arts of peace. 
But through adventurous warre 
UrgM his active starre ; 

And, like the three-forked lightning, first 

Breaking the clouds where it was nurst. 

Did thorough his own Side 

His fiery way divide : 

• ••••• • 

Then burning through the aire he went. 
And palaces and temples rent ; 
And Cagsar's head at last 
Did through his laurels blast. 



[138] 



101 



SHALL THE POT COMPLAINE? 

MAY not a Potter, that, from out the 
Ground, 
Hath fram'd a vessell, search if it be soimd ? 
Or if, by forbushing, he take more paine 
To make it fairer, shall the Pot eomplaine ? 
Mortall, thou art but Clay: then shall not 

Hee, 
That fram'd thee for his service, season thee? 
Man, cloze thy Ups ; Be thou no vndertaker 
Of God's designes ; Dispute not with thy 

Maker. 



[139] 



102 



THE HIGH PERFECTIONS 

THE high PerfectionSy wherewith heav'n 
do's please 
To crowne our transitory dayes, are these ; 
Goods well possest, and not possessing thee : 
A faithfull Friend ; equall in love, degree : 
Lands fruitfuU, and not conscious of a Curse : 
A boastlesse hand; a Charitable jp^r^^ : 
A smiling Conscience ; A contented Mind; 
A sober knowledge^ with true Wisedome, ^oynd ; 
A Brest, well-temper'd ; Dyet, without Art, 
Surfeit, or want ; A wisely-simple Heart ; 
Pastimes ingenious, lawfuU, manly, sparing ; 
A Spirit not contentious, rash, but daring : 
A Pody healthfuU, sound, and fit for labour ; 
A House well order'd ; and an equall Neigh- 
bour : 
A prudent wife, and constant to the roofe ; 
Sober, but yet not sad, and faire enough ; 
Sleepe seasonable, moderate, and secure ; 
Actions heroicke, constant, blamelesse, pure ; 
A Life, as long as faire ; and when expir'd, 
A glorious Death, unfear'd, as undesir'd. 

[140] 



103 



THE PULLEY 

WHEN God at first made Man, 
Having a glass of blessings standing by. 
Let us (said He) pour on him all we can : 
Let the world's riches, which dispersed lie, 
Contract into a span. 

So strength first made a way ; 

Then beauty flow'd, then wisdom, honour, 

pleasure ; 
When almost all was out, God made a stay, 
Perceiving that, alone of all His treasure. 
Rest in the bottom lay. 

For if I should (said He) 
Bestow this jewel also on My creature. 
He would adore My gifts instead of Me, 
And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature ; 
So both should losers be. 

[141] 



Yet let him keep the rest, 
But keep them with repining restlessness ; 
Let him be rich and weary, that at least. 
If goodness lead him not, yet weariness 
May toss him to My breast. 



[149] 



104 



LOOK TO THE END 

MY soul, sit thou a patient looker-on ; 
Judge not the play before the play is 
done: 
Her plot hath many changes ; every day 
Speaks a new scene ; the last act crowns the 
play. 



[143] 



105 



HEARK HITHER 

HEARK hither, Reader ; would'st thou see 
Nature her own physician be ? 
Would'st see a man all his own wealth. 
His own musick ; his own health ? 
A man whose sober soul can tell 
How to wear her garments well ? 

A happie soul, that aU the way 
To Heaven hath a summer s day ? 

In summe, w^ould'st see a man that can 

Live to be old, and still a man ? 

Whose latest and most leaden houres 

Fall with soft wings, stuck with soft flowres ; 

And when Life's sweet fable ends, 

His soul and bodie part like friends : 

No quarrels, murmures, no delay : 

A kisse, a sigh, and so away ? 

This rare one. Reader, would'st thou see, 

Heark, hither ; and thyself be he. 

[144 J 



106 



THE JUST MAN 



H 



E fearlesse stands; he knows whom he 
doth trust. 



Strange strength resideth in the soul that's 
just. 



[145] 



107 



AN EPITAPH 

HERE lies the ruin'd Cabinet 
Of a rich Soul more highly set 
The dross and refuse of a Mind 
Too glorious to be here confined. 

. . . While he travel'd here beneath, 
He lived when others only breathe : 
For not a sand of time slipp'd by 
Without its action sweet as high. 
So good, so peaceable, so bless'd, — 
Angels alone can speak the rest. 



[14«] 



108 



ON THE DEATH OF SIR ALBERT 
MORTON'S WIFE 



H 



E first deceased ; she for a little tried 
To live without him, liked it not, and 
died. 



[147] 



109 



EIDOLA 



ARE they shadows that we see ? 
And can shadows pleasure give ? 
Pleasures only shadows be. 
Cast by bodies we conceive. 
And are made the things we deem 
In those figures which they seem. 

But these pleasures vanish fast 
Which by shadows are exprest. 
Pleasures are not if they last ; 
In their passage is their best : 
Glory is most bright and gay 
In a flash, and so away. 

Feed apace then, greedy eyes. 
On the wonder you behold : 
Take it sudden as it flies. 
Though you take it not to hold : 
When your eyes have done their part. 
Thought must length it in the heart. 

[148] 



110 



ANCIENT ATHENS 

BEHOLD 
Where on the iEgean shore a city 

stands, 
Built nobly, pure the air and light the soil — 
Athens, the eye of Greece, mother of arts 
And eloquence, native to famous wits 
Or hospitable, in her sweet recess 
City or suburban, studious walks and shades. 
See there the olive-grove of Academe, 
Plato's retirement, where the Attic bird 
Trills her thick-warbled notes the summer 

long ; 
There, flowery hill, Hymettus, with the sound 
Of bees' industrious murmur, oft invites 
To studious musing ; there Ihssus rolls 
His whispering stream. Within the walls 

then view 
The schools of ancient sages — his who bred 
Great Alexander to subdue the world, 
Lyceum there ; and painted Stoa next. 

[149] 



There thou shalt hear and learn the secret 

power 
Of harmony, in tones and numbers hit 
By voice or hand, and various-measured verse, 
iEolian charms and Dorian lyric odes. 
And his who gave them breath, but higher 

sung, 
Bhnd Melesigenes, thence Homer called. 
Whose poem Phoebus challenged for his own. 



1150] 



Ill 



ARCADIA 



ARCADIA was, of old, a state, 
Subject to none but their own laws and 

fate; 
Superior there was none, but what old age 
And hoary hairs had raised ; the wise and sage, 
Whose gravity, when they are rich in years. 
Begat a civil reverence more than fears 
In the well-mannered people ; at that day. 
All was in common, eveiy man bare sway 
O'er his own family ; the jars that rose 
Were soon appeased by such grave men as 

those : 
This mine and thine, that we so cavil for. 
Was then not heard of ; he that was most poor 
Was rich in his content, and lived as free 
As they whose flocks were greatest ; nor did he 
Envy his great abundance, nor the other 
Disdain the low condition of his brother. 
But lent him from his store to mend his state. 
And with his love he quits him, thanks his 

fate; 

[151] 



And, taught by his example, seeks out such 
As want his help, that they may do as much. 
Their laws, e'en from their childhood, rich and 

poor 
Had written in their hearts, by conning o'er 
The legacies of good old men, whose memories 
OutHve their monuments, the grave advice 
They left behind in writing ; — this was that 
That made Arcadia then so blest a state. 



[152] 



112 



TO THE VIRGINIAN VOYAGE 

YOU brave heroic minds 
Worthy your country's name, 
That honour still pursue ; 
Go and subdue I 
Whilst loitering hinds 

Lurk here at home with shame. 

Britons, you stay too long : 
Quickly aboard bestow you. 
And with a merry gale 
Swell your stretch'd sail 
With vows as strong 

As the winds that blow you. 

Your course securely steer, 

West and by south forth keep I 
Rocks, lee-shores, nor shoals 
When Eolus scowls 
You need not fear ; 
So absolute the deep. 

[153] 



And cheerfully at sea 
Success you still entice 
To get the pearl and gold, 
And ours to hold 
Virginia^ 

Earth's only paradise. 

Where nature hath in store 
Fowl, venison, and fish. 

And the fruitfuU'st soil 
' Without your toil 

Three harvests more. 

All greater than your wish. 

And the ambitious vine 

Crowns with his purple mass 
The cedar reaching high 
To kiss the sky. 
The cypress, pine. 

And useful sassafras. 



To whom the Golden Age 

Still nature's laws doth give, 
No other cares attend. 
But them to defend 
From winter's rage. 

That long there doth not live. 

[154] 



When as the luscious smell 
Of that delicious land 

Above the seas that flows 
The clear wind throws, 
Your hearts to swell 

Approaching the dear strand ; 

In kenning of the shore 

(Thanks to God first given) 
O you the happiest men. 
Be frolic then ! 
Let cannons roar. 

Frighting the wide heaven. 

And in regions far. 

Such heroes bring ye forth 

As those from whom we came ; 
And plant our name 
Under that star 

Not known unto our North. 



And as there plenty grows 
Of laurel everywhere — 
Apollo's sacred tree — 
You it may see 
A poet's brows 

To crown, that may sing there. 

[ 155 ] 



Thy Voyages attend. 
Industrious Hakluyt, 

Whose reading shall inflame 
Men to seek fame. 
And much commend 
To after times thy wit. 



[156] 



113 



MUSIC 

THE motion which the nine-fold sacred 
quire 
Of angels make : the bliss of all the bless'd, 
Which (next the Highest) most fills the high- 
est desire, 
And moves but souls that move in Pleasure's 

rest; 
The heavenly charm that lullabies our woes. 
And recollects the mind that cares distract. 
The lively death of joyless thoughts o'erthrows. 
And brings rare joys but thought on into act : 
Which Uke the Soul of all the world doth 

move. 
The universal nature of this All : 
The life of hfe, and soul of joy and love. 
High rapture's heaven: the That I can not 

call 
(Like God) by r^al name : and what is this 
But Music, next the Highest, the highest bhss 1 

[1571 



114 



AT A SOLEMN MUSIC 

BLEST pair of Sirens, pledges of Heaven's 
joy, 
Sphere-born harmonious sisters. Voice and 

Verse, 
Wed your divine sounds, and mixed power 

employ. 
Dead things with inbreathed sense able to 

pierce ; 
And to our high-raised phantasy present 
That undisturbed song of pure concent. 
Aye sung before the sapphire-coloured throne 
To Him that sits thereon. 
With saintly shout and solemn jubilee ; 
Where the bright Seraphim in burning row 
Their loud uplifted angel-trumpets blow. 
And the Cherubic host in thousand quires 
Touch their immortal harps of golden wires. 
With those just Spirits that wear victorious 

palms. 
Hymns devout and holy psalms 

[158] 



Singing everlastingly : 
That we on Earth, with undiscording voice, 
May rightly answer that melodious noise ; 
As once we did, till disproportioned sin 
Jarred against nature's chime, and with harsh 

din 
Broke the fair music that all creatures made 
To their great Lord, whose love their motion 

swayed 
In perfect diapason, whilst they stood 
In first obedience and their state of good. 
O, may we soon again renew that song. 
And keep in tune with Heaven, till God ere 

long 
To his celestial consort us unite. 
To live with Him, and sing in endless morn 

of light I 



[159] 



115 

THE CELESTIAL SIRENS' HAR- 
MONY 

IN deep of night, when drowsiness 
Hath locked up mortal sense, then Usten I 
To the celestial Sirens' harmony, 
That sit upon the nine infolded spheres, 
And sing to those that hold the vital shears, 
And turn the adamantine spindle round 
On which the fate of gods and men is wound. 
Such sweet compulsion doth in music lie. 
To lull the daughters of Necessity, 
And keep imsteady Nature to her law. 
And the low world in measured motion draw 
After the heavenly tune, which none can hear 
Of human mould with gross unpurged ear. 



[160] 



116 

I 

THE ANGELIC SYMPHONY 

RING out, ye crystal spheres ! 
Once bless our human ears, 
If ye have power to touch our senses so ; 
And let your silver chime 
Move in melodious time ; 
And let the base of heaven's deep organ blow ; 
And with your ninefold harmony 
Make up full consort to the angeUc symphony. 

For, if such holy song 

Enwrap our fancy long. 
Time Avill run back and fetch the Age of Gold ; 

And speckled Vanity 

Will sicken soon and die ; 
And leprous Sin will melt from earthly mould ; 
And Hell itself will pass away. 
And leave her dolorous mansions to the peer- 
ing day. 

u [ 161 ] 



117 



LAP ME IN SOFT LYDIAN AIRS 

AND ever, against eating cares. 
Lap me in soft Lydian airs. 
Married to immortal verse, 
Such as the meeting soul may pierce. 
In notes with many a winding bout 
Of linked sweetness long drawn out 
With wanton heed and giddy cunning, 
The melting voice through mazes running, 
Untwisting all the chains that tie 
The hidden soul of harmony ; 
That Orpheus' self may heave his head 
From golden slumber on a bed 
Of heaped Elysian flowers, and hear 
Such strains as would have won the ear 
Of Pluto to have quite set free 
His half-regained Eurydice. 



[162] 



118 



MUSIC 

OH, lull me, lull me, charming air, 
My senses rock'd with wonder sweet 
Like snow on wool thy fallings are. 
Soft like a spirit are thy feet. 
Grief who need fear 
That hath an ear ? 
Down let him lie. 
And slumbering die, 
And change his soul for harmony. 



[163] 



119 



BLISSFUL SOUNDS ON THE NIGHT 
AIR 

HOW sweetly did they float upon the 
wings 
Of silence, through the empty- vaulted night. 
At every fall smoothing the raven down 
Of darkness till it smiled ! 



[164] 



120 



MUSIC'S DUEL 

NOW westward Sol had spent the richest 
beams 
Of Noon's high glory, when, hard by the 

streams 
Of Tiber, on the scene of a green plat. 
Under protection of an oak, there sat 
A sweet lute's-master, in whose gentle airs 
He lost the day's heat, and his own hard cares. 
Close in the covert of the leaves there stood 
A Nightingale, come from the neighbouring 

wood, 
(The sweet inhabitant of each glad tree. 
Their Muse, their Syren — harmless Syren 

she!) 
There stood she list'ning, and did entertain 
The music's soft report, and mould the same 
In her own murmurs, that whatever mood 
His curious fingers lent, her voice made good. 
The man perceived his rival and her art ; 
Disposed to give the Ught-foot lady sport, 

[165] 



Awakes his lute, and 'gainst the fight to come 
Informs it, in a sweet prseludium 
Of closer strains, and, ere the war begin, 
He lightly skirmishes on every string 
Charged with a flying touch ; and straightway 

she 
Carves out her dainty voice as readily. 
Into a thousand sweet distinguished tones. 
And reckons up in soft divisions 
Quick volumes of wild notes, to let him know, 
By that shrill taste, she could do something too. 
His nimble hands' instinct then taught 

each string 
A cap'ring cheerfulness, and made them sing 
To their owti dance ; now negligently rash 
He throws his arm, and with a long-drawn 

dash 
Blends all together ; then distinctly trips 
From this to that, then quick returning skips 
And snatches this again, and pauses there. 
She measures every measure, everyivhere 
Meets art with art ; sometimes, as if in doubt, 
Not perfect yet, and fearing to be out, 
Trails her plain ditty in one long-spun note, 
Through the sleek passage of her open throat, 
A clear unwrinkled song ; then doth she 

point it 
With tender accents, and severely joint it 

[166] 



By short diminutives, that being rear'd 
In controverting warbles evenly shared, 
With her sweet self she wrangles. He, amazed 
That from so small a channel should be raised 
The torrent of a voice whose melody 
Could melt into such sweet variety. 
Strains higher yet, that tickled with rare art 
The tattling strings (each breathing in his 

part) 
Most kindly do fall out ; the grumbling base 
In surly groans disdains the treble s grace ; 
The high-perch'd treble chirps at this, and 

chides. 
Until his finger (Moderator) hides 
And closes the sweet quarrel, rousing all, 
Hoarse, shrill, at once ; as when the trumpets 

call 
Hot Mars to th' harvest of death's field, and 

woo 
Men's hearts into their hands ; this lesson too 
She gives him back ; her supple breast thrills 

out 
Sharp airs, and staggers in a warbling doubt 
Of dallying sweetness, hovers o'er her skill. 
And folds in wav'd notes with a trembling 

bill 
The pliant series of her slippery song ; 
Then starts she suddenly into a throng 

[1671 



Of short thick sobs, whose thundering volleys 

float, 
And roll themselves over her lubric throat 
In panting murmurs, 'still'd out of her breast. 
That ever-bubbling spring, the sugar'd nest 
Of her delicious soul, that there does he 
Bathing in streams of liquid melody ; 
Music's best seed-plot ; when in ripen'd airs 
A golden-headed harvest fairly rears 
His honey-dropping tops, plough'd by her 

breath. 
Which there reciprocally laboureth 
In that sweet soil ; it seems a holy choir 
Founded to th* name of great Apollo's lyre ; 
Whose silver-roof rings with the sprightly 

notes 
Of sweet-lipp'd angel-imps, that swill their 

throats 
In cream of morning Helicon, and then 
Prefer soft anthems to the ears of men. 
To woo them from their beds, still murmuring 
That men can sleep while they their matins 

sing: 
(Most Divine service) whose so early lay 
Prevents the eyelids of the blushing Day ! 
There might you hear her kindle her soft 

voice 
In the close murmur of a sparkling noise, 

[168] 



And lay the ground- work of her hopeful song, 
Still keeping in the forward stream, so long. 
Till a sweet whMwind (striving to get out) 
Heaves her soft bosom, wanders round about. 
And makes a pretty earthquake in her breast, 
Till the fledged notes at length forsake their 

nest, 
Fluttering in wanton shoals, and to the sky, 
Wing'd with their own wild echoes, prattling 

fly- 

She opes the floodgate, and lets loose a tide 
Of streaming sweetness, which in state doth 

ride 
On the waved back of every swelling strain, 
Rising and falling in a pompous train ; 
And while she thus discharges a shrill peal 
Of flashing airs, she qualifies their zeal 
With the cool epode of a graver note. 
Thus high, thus low, as if her silver throat 
Would reach the brazen voice of War's hoarse 

bird 
Her little soul is ravish'd, and so pour'd 
Into loose ecstasies, that she is placed 
Above herself. Music's Enthusiast. 

Shame now and anger mixed a double stain 
In the Musician's face ; ' Yet once again 
(Mistress) I come ; now reach a strain, my lute, 
Above her mock, or be for ever mute ; 

[169 1 



Or tune a song of victory to me, 
Or to thyself sing thine own obsequy ; ' 
So said, his hands sprightly as fire he flings. 
And with a quavering coyness tastes the 

strings : 
The sweet-hpp'd sisters, musically frighted. 
Singing their fears, are fearfully delighted : 
Trembling as when Apollo's golden hairs 
Are fann'd and frizzled in the wanton airs 
Of his own breath: which married to his 

lyre 
Doth tune the spheres, and make Heaven's 

self look higher. 
From this to that, from that to this he flies. 
Feels Music's pulse in all her arteries ; 
Caught in a net which there Apollo spreads, 
His fingers struggle with the vocal threads. 
Following those Httle rills, he sinks into 
A sea of Helicon ; his hand does go 
Those parts of sweetness which with nectar 

drop. 
Softer than that which pants in Hebe's cup. 
The humorous strings expound his learned 

touch 
By various glosses ; now they seem to grutch. 
And murmur in a buzzing din, then gingle 
In shrill-tongued accents, striving to be 

single ; 

[170] 



Every smooth turn, every delicious stroke 
Gives life to some new grace ; thus doth h' 

invoke 
Sweetness by all her names; thus, bravely 

thus, 
(Fraught with a fury so harmonious) 
The Lute's Ught genius now does proudly rise. 
Heaved on the surges of swollen rhapsodies. 
Whose floxuish (meteor-like) doth curl the air 
With flash of high-born fancies ; here and there 
Dancing in lofty measures, and anon 
Creeps on the soft touch of a tender tone ; 
Whose trembling murmurs melting in wild 

airs 
Runs to and fro, complaining his sweet cares. 
Because those precious mysteries that dwell 
In Music s ravish'd soul he dares not tell. 
But whisper to the world : thus do they vary 
Each string his note, as if they meant to carry 
Their Master s blest soul (snatch'd out at his 

ears 
By a strong ecstasy) through all the spheres 
Of Music's heaven ; and seat it there on high 
In th' empyrean of pure harmony. 
At length (after so long, so loud a strife 
Of all the strings, still breathing the best life 
Of blest variety, attending on 
His fingers' fairest revolution, 

[171] 



In many a sweet rise, many as sweet a fall) 
A full-mouth'd diapason swallows all. 

This done, he lists what she would say to 
this, 
And she (although her breath's late exercise 
Had dealt too roughly with her tender throat), 
Yet summons all her sweet powers for a note. 
Alas ! in vain I for while (sweet soul !) she tries 
To measure all those wild diversities 
Of chatt'ring strings, by the small size of one 
Poor simple voice, raised in a natural tone ; 
She fails, and failing grieves, and grieving dies. 
She dies : and leaves her life the Victor's prize. 
Falling upon his lute : O, fit to have 
(That lived so sweetly) dead, so sweet a grave I 



[172] 



121 



THE BIRD CONCERT 

THE mounting lark, day's herald, got on 
wing. 
Bidding each bird choose out his bow and sing. 
The lofty treble sung the little wren ; 
Robin the mean, that best of all loves men ; 
The nightingale the tenor ; and the thrush 
The counter-tenor sweetly in a bush : 
And that the music might be full in parts. 
Birds from the groves flew with right willing 

hearts. 
But, as it seem'd, they thought, as do the 

swains 
Which tune their pipes on sack'd Hibernians 

plains. 
There should some droning part be, therefore 

wiU'd 
Some bird to fly into a neighbouring field. 
In embassy unto the king of bees. 
To aid his partners on the flowers and trees : 

[173] 



Who condescending gladly flew along 
To bear the base to his well-tuned song. 
The crow was willing they should be beholding 
To his deep voice, but being hoarse with 

scolding, 
He thus lends aid ; upon an oak doth climb, 
And nodding with his head, so keepeth time. 



174] 



122 



FLOWERS FOR THE SHEPHERD'S 
HOLIDAY 

WELL done, my pretty ones I rain roses 
still. 
Until the last be dropt : then hence, and fill 
Your fragrant prickles for a second shower. 
Bring corn-flag, tulips, and Adonis' flower, 
Fair ox-eye, goldy-locks, and columbine. 
Pinks, goulands, king-cups, and sweet sops-in- 

wine, 
Blue harebells, pagles, pansies, calaminth, 
Flower-gentle, and the fair-haired hyacinth ; 
Bring rich carnations, flower-de-luces, lilies. 
The checqued, and purple-ringed daffbdilhes, 
Bright crown imperial, kingspear, hollyhocks. 
Sweet Venus-navel, and soft lady-smocks ; 
Bring too some branches forth of Daphne's 

hair. 
And gladdest myrtle for these posts to wear. 
With spikenard weaved and marjoram be- 
tween. 
And starred with yellow-golds and meadows- 
queen. 

[175] 



123 

THE GARDENS OF THE HES- 
PERIDES 

TO the ocean now I fly, 
And those happy cUmes that lie 
Where day never shuts his eye. 
Up in the broad fields of the sky. 
There I suck the liquid air. 
All amidst the gardens fair 
Of Hesperus, and his daughters three 
That sing about the golden tree. 
Along the crisped shades and bowers 
Revels the spruce and jocund Spring ; 
The Graces and the rosy-bosomed Hours 
Thither all their bounties bring. 
There eternal Summer dwells ; 
And west winds with musky wing 
About the cedarn alleys fling 
Nard and cassia's balmy smells. 



[176 J 



124 

EVE 

{Her Hair) 

THE fuller stream of her luxuriant Hair 
Pour'd down itself upon her ivory back : 
In which soft flood ten thousand Graces were 
Sporting and dallying with every Lock ; 
The rival Winds for kisses fell to fight, 
And rais'd a ruffling tempest of DeHght. 

{Her Eyes) 

Two Garrisons were these of conquering Love, 
Two founts of Life, of Spirit, of Joy, of 

Grace ; 
Two Easts in one fair Heav'ns no more above, 
But in the hemisphere of her own face. 

{Her Mouth) 

Inamoring Neatness, Softness, Pleasure, at 
Her gracious Mouth in full retinue stood : 
For, next the Eyes' bright Glass, the Soul at 

that 
Takes most delight to look and walk abroad. 

12 [ 177 ] 



{Her Waist) 

Her waste itself did gird 
With its own graceful Slendemess, and ty 
Up Delicacifs best Epitomy. 

Fair PoUture walk'd all her body over. 
And Symmetry rejoye'd in every part ; 
Soft and white Sweetness was her native Cover. 

This was the first-bom Queen of Gallentry : 
All Gems compounded into one rich Stone, 
All sweets knit into one conspiracy, 
A constellation of all Stars in one. 



[178] 



125 



HERO 

AT Sestos Hero dwelt ; Hero the fair, 
Whom young Apollo courted for her 
hair. 
And ofFer'd as a dower his burning throne. 
Where she should sit, for men to gaze upon. 
The outside of her garments were of lawn, 
The lining purple silk, with gilt stars drawn ; 
Her wide sleeves green, and border'd with a 

grove. 
Where Venus in her naked glory strove 
To please the careless and disdainful eyes 
Of proud Adonis, that before her lies ; 
Her kirtle blue, whereon was many a stain. 
Made with the blood of wretched lovers slain. 
Upon her head she ware a myrtle wreath, 
From whence her veil reach'd to the ground 

beneath : 
Her veil was artificial flowers and leaves. 
Whose workmanship both man and beast de- 
ceives : 

[179] 



Many would praise the sweet smell as she 

past, 
When 't was the odour which her breath forth 

cast; 
And there for honey bees have sought in vain. 
And, beat from thence, have Ughted there 

again. 
About her neck hung chains of pebble-stone. 
Which, lighten'd by her neck, like diamonds 

shone. 
She ware no gloves ; for neither sun nor wind 
Would burn or parch her hands, but, to her 

mind. 
Or warqa or cool them, for they took delight 
To play upon those hands, they were so white. 
Buskins of shells, all silver'd, used she. 
And branch'd with blushing coral to the knee ; 
Where sparrows perch'd of hollow pearl and 

gold. 
Such as the world would wonder to behold : 
Those with sweet water oft her handmaid fills, 
Which as she went, would cherup through the 

bills. 



[180] 



126 



FAUST HAS A VISION OF HELEN 

WAS this the face that launched a thou- 
sand ships 
And burnt the topless towers of Ilium ? 

Oh, thou art fairer than the evening air 
Clad in the beauty of a thousand stars ! 



[181 J 



127 



HELEN ON THE WALLS 

THEY reach'd the Scaean towers, 
Where Priam sat, to see the fight, 

with all his counsellors ; 
Panthous, Lampus, Cljrtius, and stout Hicetaon, 
Thymoetes, wise Antenor, and profound 

Ucalegon ; 
All grave old men ; and soldiers they had 

been, but for age 
Now left the wars ; yet counsellors they were 

exceeding sage. 
And as in well-grown woods, on trees, cold 

spiny grasshoppers 
Sit chirping, and send voices out, that scarce 

can pierce our ears 
For softness, and their weak faint sounds ; so, 

talking on the tower. 
These seniors of the people sate ; who when 

they saw the power 

[182] 



Of beauty, in the queen, ascend, even those 

cold-spirited peers. 
Those wise and almost withered men, found 

this heat in their years. 
That they were forced (thi'ough whispering) to 

say : " What man can blame 
The Greeks and Trojans to endure, for so 

admired a dame. 
So many miseries, and so long ? " 



[183] 



128 



CLEOPATRA 

THE barge she sat in, like a bumish'd 
throne, 
Bum'd on the water: the poop was beaten 

gold; 
Purple the sails, and so perfumed that 
The winds were love-sick with them ; the oars 

were silver. 
Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke and 

made 
The water which they beat to follow faster. 
As amorous of their strokes. For her own 

person. 
It beggar'd all description : she did lie 
In her pavihon, cloth-of-gold of tissue, 
O'er-pictnring that Venus where we see 
The fancy outwork nature : on each side her 
Stood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling 

Cupids, 
With divers-colour'd fans, whose wind did 

seem 

[184] 



To glow the delicate cheeks which they did 

cool, 
And what they undid did. 
Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides, 
So many mermaids, tended her i' the eyes. 
And made their bends adornings : at the helm 
A seeming mermaid steers : the silken tackle 
Swell with the touches of those flower-soft 

hands. 
That yarely frame the office. From the barge 
A strange invisible perfume hits the sense 
Of the adjacent wharfs. The city cast 
Her people out upon her ; and Antony, 
Enthroned i' the market-place, did sit alone. 
Whistling to the air ; which, but for vacancy. 
Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too. 
And made a gap in nature. 



[185] 



129 



THE MAGICIAN'S HERMITAGE 

ALITLE lowly hermitage it was, 
Downe in a dale, hard by a forests side. 
Far from resort of people, that did pas 
In traveiU to and froe ; a litle wyde 
There was an holy chappeU edifyde. 
Wherein the Hermite dewly wont to say 
His holy things each mome and eventyde ; 
Thereby a christall streame did gently play. 
Which from a sacred fountaine weUed forth 
alway. 



[186] 



130 



THE HOUSE OF MORPHEUS 

AND, more to lulle him in his slumber 
. soft, 
A trickling streame from high rock tumbling 

downe. 
And ever-drizling raine upon the loft, 
Mixt with a murmuring winde, much like the 

so^ne 
Of swarming bees, did caste him in a swowne. 
No other noyse, nor peoples troublous cryes. 
As still are wont t' annoy the walled towne. 
Might there be heard ; but carelesse Quiet lyes. 
Wrapt in eternall silence farre from enimyes. 



[187] 



131 



THE BOWER OF BLISS 

EFTSOONES they heard a most melodious 
sound, 
Of all that mote delight a daintie eare, 
Such as attonce might not on living ground. 
Save in this paradise, be heard elsewhere : 
Right hard it was for wight which did it heare. 
To read what manner musicke that mote bee ; 
For all that pleasing is to living eare 
Was there consorted in one harmonee ; 
Birdes, voices, instruments, windes, waters, all 
agree : 

The ioyous birdes, shrouded in chearefull shade, 
Their notes unto the voice attempred sweet , 
Th' angelicall soft trembling voyces made 
To th' instruments divine respondence meet ; 
The silver-sounding instruments did meet 
With the base murmure of the waters fall ; 
The waters fall with diflference discreet. 
Now soft, now loud, unto the wind did call ; 
The gentle warbling wind low answered to all. 

[188] 



132 



HIS POETS 
IITERE I to name, out of the times gone 

The poets dearest to me, I should say, 
Pulei for spirits, and a fine, free way ; 
Chaucer for manners, and close, silent eye ; 
Milton for classic taste, and harp strung high ; 
Spenser for luxury, and sweet, sylvan play ; 
Horace for chatting with, from day to day ; 
Shakspere for all, but most — society. 

But which take with me, could I take but one ? 
Shakspere, as long as I was unoppressed 
With the world's weight, making sad thoughts 

intenser ; 
But did 1 wish, out of the common sun. 
To lay a wounded heart in leafy rest. 
And dream of things far off and healing, — 

Spenser. 



[189] 



133 



THE FADELESS SUMMER 

SHALL I compare thee to a summer's 
day? 
Thou art more lovely and more temperate : 
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of 

May, 
And summer's lease hath all too short a date : 
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, 
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd ; 
And every fair from fair sometime declines, 
By chance or nature's changing com*se un- 

trimm'd ; 
But thy eternal summer shall not fade. 
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest ; 
Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his 

^ shade. 
When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st : 
So long as men can breathe, or eyes can 

see. 
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee. 

[190] 



134 



DIRGE 

FEAR no more the heat o' the sun, 
Nor the furious winter's rages ; 
Thou thy worldly task hast done. 

Home art gone and ta'en thy wages 
Golden lads and girls all must. 
As chimney-sweepers, come to dust. 

Fear no more the frown o' the great ; 

Thou art past the tyrant's stroke ; 
Care no more to clothe and eat ; 

To thee the reed is as the oak : 
The sceptre, learning, physic, must 
All follow this and come to dust. 

Fear no more the lightning-flash. 
Nor the all-dreaded thunder-stone ; 

Fear not slander, censure rash ; 
Thou hast finish'd joy and moan : 

All lovers yoimg, all lovers must. 

Consign to thee and come to dust. 

[191] 



No exerciser harm thee ! 
Nor no witchcraft charm thee ! 
Ghost milaid forbear thee ! 
Nothing ill come near thee 1 
Quiet consummation have ; 
And renowned be thy grave ! 



[1921 



o 



135 



SWEET AND TWENTY 



MISTRESS mine, where are you 
roaming ? 



O, stay and hear ; your true love 's coming, 
That can sing both high and low : 

Trip no further, pretty sweeting ; 

Journeys end in lovers meeting. 
Every wise man's son doth know. 

What is love ? 't is not hereafter ; 
Present mirth hath present laughter ; 

What 's to come is still unsure : 
In delay there Ues no plenty ; 
Then come kiss me, sweet and twenty, 

Youth 's a stuff wiU not endure. 



18 



[193] 



136 



THE SONG OF PARIS AND CENONE 

CEnone Fair and fair, and twice so fair, 
As fair as any may be ; 
The fairest shepherd on our green, 
A love for any lady. 

Paris Fair and fair, and twice so fair. 
As fair as any may be ; 
Thy love is fair for thee alone. 
And for no other lady. 

CEnone My love is fair, my love is gay. 

As fresh as bin the flowers in INIay, 
And of my love my roundelay, 
My merry, merry, merry roundelay, 
Concludes with Cupid's curse, — 

A mbo ' ' They that do change old love for new. 
Pray gods they change for 
worse 1 " 



[194] 



137 



THE TREACHEROUS GUEST 

CUPID abroad was lated in the night, 
His wings were wet with ranging in the 
rain; 
Harbour he sought, to me he took his flight, 
To dry his plumes : I heard the boy com- 
plain ; 
I oped the door, and granted his desire, 
I rose myself, and made the wag a fire. 

Looking more narrow by the fire's flame, 
I spied his quiver hanging by his back : 
Doubting the boy might my misfortune frame, 
I would have gone for fear of further 
wrack ; 
But what I drad, did me poor wretch 

betide. 
For forth he drew an arrow fi:om liis side. 

[195] 



He pierced the quick, and I began to start, 

A pleasing wound, but that it was too high ; 

His shaft procured a sharp, yet sugared 

smart : 

Away he flew, for why his wings were dry ; 

But left the arrow sticking in my breast. 

That sore I grieved I welcomed such a 

guest. 



[196] 



138 



UNTRUE 

STILL do the stars impart their light 
To those that travel in the night : 
Still time runs on, nor doth the hand 
Or shadow on the dial stand : 
The streams still ghde and constant are : 

Only thy mind 

Untrue I find. 

Which carelessly 

Neglects to be 
Like stream or shadow, hand or star. 



[19T] 



139 



FORTUNE, THE BROOK AND LOVE 

SO glides along the wanton brook 
With gentle pace into the main. 
Courting the banks with amorous look 
He never means to see again. 

And so does Fortune use to smile 
Upon the shoi t-liv'd favourite's face. 

Whose swelling hopes she doth beguile. 
And always casts him in the race. 

And so doth the fantastic boy, 
The god of the ill-manag'd flames. 

Who ne'er kept word in promis'd joy 
To lover, nor to lo^dng dames. 

So all ahke will constant prove, 

Both Fortune, running streams, and Love. 



[198 J 



140 



SONG 



GO and catch a falling star. 
Get with child a mandrake root, 
Tell me where all past years are, 
Or who cleft the Devil's foot ; 
Teach me to hear mermaids singing. 
Or to keep off envy's stinging. 
And find 
What wind 
Serves to advance an honest mind. 

If thou be'st bom to strange sights. 

Things invisible go see. 
Ride ten thousand days and nights 

Till Age snow white hairs on thee ; 
Thou, when thou return'st, wilt tell me 
All strange wonders that befell thee. 
And swear 
No where 
Lives a woman true and fair. 

[199 1 



If thou find'st one, let me know ; 
Such a pilgrimage were sweet. 
Yet do not ; I would not go, 

Though at next door we might meet. 
Though she were true when you met her. 
And last till you write your letter. 
Yet she 
WiUbe 
False, ere I come, to two or three. 



[200] 



141 



ACCURST BE LOVE 

ACCURST be love, and they that trust 
his trains; 
He tastes the fruit, whil'st others toil : 
He brings the lamp, we lend the oil : 
He sows distress, we yield him soil : 
He wageth war, we bide the foil. 

Accurst be love, and those that trust his 
trains ; 
He lays the trap, we seek the snare : 
He threatneth death, we speak him fair : 
He coins deceits, we foster care : 
He favoureth pride, we count it rare. 

Accurst be love, and those that trust his 
trains ; 
He seemeth blind, yet wounds with art : 
He vows content, he pays with smart : 
He swears relief, yet kills the heart : 
He calls for truth, yet scorns desert. 

[201] 



Accurst be love, and those that trust his 

trains. 
Whose heaven is hell ; whose perfect joys are 

pains. 



[202] 



142 



JEALOUSY 

WHEN gods had fi-amed the sweet of 
women's face. 
And locked men's looks within their golden 
hair. 
That Phcebus blushed to see their matchless 
grace, 
And heavenly gods on earth did make 
repair ; 
To quip fair Venus' overweening pride, 
Ijove's happy thoughts to jealousy were tied. 

Then grew a wrinkle on fair Venus' brow ; 

The amber sweet of love is turned to gall ; 
Gloomy was heaven ; bright Phcebus did avow 

He could be coy, and would not love at all, 
Swearing, no greater mischief could be MTOught 
Than love united to a jealous thought. 



[203] 



143 



CUPID AND CAMPASPE 

CVPID and my Campaspe playd 
At Gardes for kisses, Cupid payd ; 
He stakes his Quiuer, Bow, & Arrows, 
His Mothers doues, & teeme of sparows ; 
Looses them too ; then, downe he throwes 
The corrall of his lippe, the rose 
Growing on 's cheek (but none knows how), 
With these, the cristall of his Brow, 
And then the dimple of his chinne : 
All these did my Campaspe winne. 
At last, hee set her both his eyes ; 
Shee won, and Cupid bhnd did rise. 

O Loue ! has shee done this to Thee ? 

What shall (Alas !) become of mee ? 



[204] 



144 



ROSALIND'S MADRIGAL 

LOVE in my bosom like a bee 
Doth suck his sweet ; 
Now with his wings he plays with me, 

Now with his feet. 
Within mine eyes he makes his nest. 
His bed amidst my tender breast ; 
My kisses are his daily feast. 
And yet he robs me of my rest. 
Ah wanton, will ye ? 

And if I sleep, then percheth he 

With pretty flight. 
And makes his pillow of my knee 

The hvelong night. 
Strike I my lute, he times the string ; 
He music plays if so I sing ; 
He lends me every lovely thing ; 
Yet cruel he my heart doth sting. 

Whist, wanton, still ye ! 

[205] 



145 



THE CRYER 

GOOD Folke, for Gold or Hyre, 
But helpe me to a Cryer ; 
For my poore Heart is nmne astray 
After two Eyes, that pass'd this way. 
O yes, O yes, O yes, 
If there be any Man, 
In Towne or Countrey, can 
Bring me my Heart againe. 
He please him for his paine ; 
And by these Marks I will you show. 
That onely I this Heart doe owe. 
It is a wounded Heart, 
Wherein yet sticks the Dart, 
Eu'ry piece sore hurt throughout it. 
Faith, and Troth, writ round about it: 
It was a tame Heart, and a deare. 

And neuer vs'd to roame ; 
But hauing got this Haunt, I feare 

'T will hardly stay at home. 
For Gods sake, walking by the way. 

If you my Heart doe see. 
Either impound it for a Stray, 
Or send it backe to me. 

[206] 






146 

THRICE TOSS THESE OAKEN 
ASHES IN THE AIR 

THRICE toss these oaken ashes in the air, 
Thrice sit thou mute in this enchanted 
chair. 
Then thrice-three times tie up this true love's 

knot, 
And mm-mur soft " She will or she will not." 

Go, bum these poisonous weeds in yon blue 

fire, 
These screech-owl's feathers and this prickling 

briar, 
This cypress gathered at a dead man's grave. 
That all my fears and cares an end may have. 

Then come, you Fairies ! dance with me a 

round I 
Melt her hard heart with your melodious 

sound I 
In vain are all the charms I can devise : 
She hath an art to break them with her eyes. 

[207] 



147 



AMARYLLIS 

CROWNED with flowers I saw fair 
Amaryllis 
By Thyrsis sit, hard by a fount of crystal, 
And with her hand more white than snow or 

Hlies, 
On sand she wrote My faith shall be immoi'tal: 
And suddenly a storm of wind and weather 
Blew all her faith and sand away together. 



[208] 



148 

FRA BANK TO BANK, FRA 
WOOD TO WOOD 

FRA bank to bank, fra wood to wood I rin, 
Ourhailit with my feeble fantasie ; 
Like til a leaf that faUis from a tree. 
Or til a reed ourblawin with the win. 

Twa gods guides me : the ane of tham is blin, 
Yea and a bairn brocht up in vanitie ; 
The next a wife ingenrit of the sea, 

And Uchter nor a dauphin with her fin. 

Unhappy is the man for evermair 

That tills the sand and sawis in the air ; 
But twice unhappier is he, I lairn. 
That feidis in his hairt a mad desire. 
And follows on a woman throw the fire. 
Led by a bUnd and teachit by a bairn. 



[209] 



149 



THE RESOLVE 

TELL me not of a face that 's fair, 
Nor lip and cheek that 's red, 
Nor of the tresses of her hair, 

Nor curls in order laid. 
Nor of a rare seraphic voice 

That hke an angel sings ; 
Though if I were to take my choice 

I would have all these things : 
But if that thou wilt have me love. 

And it must be a she, 
The only argument can move 

Is that she will love me. 

The glories of your ladies be 

But metaphors of things. 
And but resemble what we see 

Each common object brings. 
Hoses out-red their Ups and cheeks. 

Lilies their whiteness stain ; 
What fool is he that shadows seeks 

And may the substance gain ? _:u 

[210] 



Then if thou It have me love a lass, 
Let it be one that 's kind : 

Else I 'm a servant to the glass 
That 's with Canary lined. 



[211] 



150 



SOFT, CUPID, SOFT 

SOFT, Cupid, soft, there is no haste, 
For all unkindness gone and past ; 
Since thou wilt needs forsake me so, 
Let us part friends before thou go. 

Still shalt thou have my heart to use, — 
When I cannot otherwise chuse : 
My life thou mayst command sans doubt, 
Command, I say — and go without. 

And if that I do ever prove 
False and unkind to gentle Love, 
1 11 not desire to live a day 
Nor any longer — than I may. 

1 11 daily bless the Uttle god, — 
But not without a smarting rod. 
Wilt thou still unkindly leave me ? 
Now I pray God, — all ill go with thee I 



[212] 



151 



THE LADY OF THE MAY 

IN the merry month of May, 
In a morn by break of day, 
Forth I walk'd by the wood-side. 
When as May was in his pride ; 
There I spied all alone, 
Philhda and Coridon. 
Much ado there was, God wot 1 
He would love, and she would not. 
She said. Never man was true. 
He said. None was false to you. 
He said. He had loved her long ; 
She said, Love should have no wrong. 
Coridon would kiss her then ; 
She said. Maids must kiss no men 
Till they did for good and all ; 
Then she made the shepherd call 
All the heavens to witness truth 
Never love a truer youth. 
Thus with many a pretty oath. 
Yea and nay, and faith and troth, 

[213] 



Such as silly shepherds use 
When they will not Love abuse. 
Love, which had been long deluded. 
Was with kisses sweet concluded ; 
And Phillida, with garlands gay. 
Was made the Lady of the May. 



[2U] 



152 



COME A MAYING 

GET up, get up for shame, the Blooming 
Morne 
Upon her wings presents the god unshorne. 
See how Aurora throwes her faire 
Fresh-quilted colours through the aire : 
Get up, sweet Slug-a-bed, and see 
The Dew-bespangling Herbe and Tree. 

Each Flower has wept, and bow'd toward the 
East, 

Above an houre since ; yet you not drest. 
Nay I not so much as out of bed ? 
When all the Birds have Mattens seyd, 
And sung their thankfull Hymnes : 't is sin 
Nay, profanation to keep in, 

Whenas a thousand Virgins on this day. 

Spring, sooner than the Lark, to fetch in May. 

Rise ; and put on your Foliage, and be scene 
To come forth, like the Spring-time, fresh and 
greene ; 

[215] 



And sweet as Flora. Take no care 
For Jewels for your Gowne, or Haire ; 
Feare not ; the leaves will strew 
Gemms in abundance upon you : 

Besides, the childhood of the Day has kept, 

Against you come, some Orient Peark unwe^^t : 
Come, and receive them while the light 
Hangs on the Dew-locks of the night : 
And Titan on the Eastern hill 
Retires himselfe, or else stands still 

Till you come forth. Wash, dresse, be briefe 
in praying : 

Few Beads are best, when once we goe a 
Maying. 



[216] 



153 



WELCOME TO AGLAIA 

FLORA hath bin all about. 
And hath brought her wardrope out ; 
With her fairest sweetest flowers, 
All to trimine vp all your Bowers. 
Bid the Shepheards and their Swaynes 
See the beautie of their plaines. 
And commaund them with their flockes 
To doe reuerence on the rockes. 
Where they may so happie be 
As her shadowe but to see. 
Bidde the Birdes in euery bush, 
Not a bird to be at hush : 
But to sit, chirip, and sing, 
To the beautie of the spring. 
Call the siluan Nimphes together, 
Bid them bring their musickes hither : 

So with all your sweetest powers, 
Entertaine her in your bowers. 
Where her eare may ioy to heare. 
How yee make your sweetest quire : 

[217] 



And in all your sweetest vaine, 
Still Aglaia strike the straine. 
But when shee her walke doth tume, 
Then begin as fast to moume : 
All your flowers and Garlands wither. 
Put vp all your pipes together : 
Neuer strike a pleasing straine 
Till shee come abrode againe. 



[218] 



154 



PHCEBUS, ARISE 

PHOEBUS, arise, 
And paint the sable skies 
With azure, white, and red ; 
Rouse Memnon's mother from her Tython's 

bed. 
That she thy carrier may with roses spread ; 
The nightingales thy coming each where sing ; 
Make an eternal spring. 
Give life to this dark world which lieth dead ; 
Spread forth thy golden hair 
In larger locks than thou wast wont before. 
And, emperor like, decore 
With diadem of pearl thy temples fair : 
Chase hence the ugly night. 
Which serves but to make dear thy glorious 

light. 

This is the morn should bring unto this grove 
My love, to hear and recompense my love. 

[219] 



The winds all silent are, 

And Phoebus in his chair, 

Ensaffroning sea and air, 

Makes vanish every star : 

Night like a drunkard reels 

Beyond the hills to shun his flaming wheels ; 

The fields with flow'rs are deck'd in eveiy hue, 

The clouds bespangle with bright gold their 

blue : 
Here is the pleasant place, 
And ev'ry thing, save her, who all should 

grace. 



[220] 



155 



THE COMING OF THE BRIDE 

WHAT'S that we see from far? the 
spring of Day 
Bloom'd from the East, or faire Injewel'd 
May 
Blowne out of April ; or some New- 
Star fiird with glory to our view. 
Reaching at heaven. 
To adde a nobler Planet to the seven ? 

Say, or doe we not descrie 
Some Goddesse, in a cloud of TifFanie 
To move, or rather the 
Emergent Venus from the Sea ? 

'T is she ! 't is she I or else some more Divine 
Enlightned substance ; mark how from the 
Shrine 
Of holy Saints she paces on, 
Treading upon Vermilion 

And Amber; Spice- 
ing the Chaf t-Aire with fumes of Paradise. 

[221] 



Then come on, come on, and yeeld 
A savour like unto a blessed field, 
When the bedabled Morne 
Washes the golden eares of eorne. 



See where she comes ; and smell how all the 

street 
Breathes Vine-yards and Pomgranats : O how 
sweet I 
As a fir'd Altar, is each stone. 
Perspiring pounded Cynamon. 

The Phenix nest. 
Built up of odours, burneth in her breast. 

Who therein wo'd not consume 
His soule to Ash-heaps in that rich perfume ? 
Bestroaking Fate the while 
He burnes to Embers on the Pile. 



Himen, O Himen ! tread the sacred ground ; 
Shew thy white feet, and head with Maijoram 
crown'd : 
Mount up thy flames, and let thy Torch 
Display the Bridegroom in the porch, 
In his desires 
More towring, more disparlding then thy 
fires : 

[229] 



Shew her how his eyes do turne 
And roule about, and in their motions burne 
Their balls to Cindars : haste, 
Or else to ashes he will waste. 

Glide by the banks of Virgins then, and passe 
The Shewers of Roses, lucky four-leav'd 
grasse : 
The while the cloud of younglings sing. 
And drowne yee with a flowrie Spring. 



[223] 



156 



BRIDAL SONG 

OCOME, soft rest of cares ! come, Night ! 
Come, naked Virtue's only tire, 
The reaped harvest of the light 
Bound up in sheaves of sacred fire. 
Love calls to war : 
Sighs his alarms. 
Lips his swords are. 
The field his arms. 

Come, Night, and lay thy velvet hand 

On glorious Day's outfacing face; 
And all thy crowned flames command 
For torches to our nuptial grace. 
Love calls to war : 
Sighs his alarms. 
Lips his swords are, 
The field his arms. 



[224] 



157 



THE BRIDE 

HER feet beneath her petticoat, 
Like little mice, stole in and out. 
As if they fear'd the Hght : 
But O she dances such a way I 
No sun upon an Easter-day 
Is half so fine a sight. 

Her cheeks so rare a white was on. 
No daisy makes comparison ; 

Who sees them is undone ; 
For streaks of red were mingled there, 
Such as are on a Cath'rine pear. 

The side that's next the sun. 

Her lips were red ; and one was thin. 
Compared to that was next her chin. 

Some bee had stung it newly ; 
But . . . her eyes so guard her face, 
I durst no more upon them gaze 

Than on the sim in July. 

W [ 225 ] 



158 



MORNING SONG 

RISE, lady mistress, rise ! 
The night hath tedious been ; 
No sleep hath fallen into my eyes. 
Nor slumbers made me sin. 
Is not she a saint, then, say. 
Thought of whom keeps sin away ? 

Rise, madam, rise and give me light. 

Whom darkness still will cover, 

And ignorance darker than night. 

Till thou shine on thy lover. 

AU want day tiU thy beauty rise. 

For the grey morn breaks from thine eyes, 



[226] 



159 



MORNING SONG 

THE lark now leaves his wat'ry nest, 
And, climbing, shakes his dewy 
wings ; 
He takes this window for the east. 

And to implore your light he sings : 
Awake, awake ! the morn will never rise 
Till she can dress her beauty at your eyes. 

The merchant bows unto the seaman's star. 
The ploughman from the sun his season 
takes ; 
But still the lover wonders what they are 

Who look for day before his mistress wakes. 
Awake, awake ! break through your veils of 

lawn. 
Then draw your curtains and begin the dawn. 



[297 1 



I 



160 



A CAVALIER WAR-SONG 

A STEED, a steed, of matchless speed, 
A sword of metal keen ; 
All else to noble hearts is dross, 

All else on earth is mean. 
The neighing of the war-horse proud. 

The rolling of the drum, 
The clangour of the trumpet loud. 

Be sounds from heaven that come. 
And oh I the thundering press of knights, 

Whenas their war-cries swell, 
May toll from heaven an angel bright. 

And rouse a fiend from hell. 

Then mount, then mount, brave gallants all, 

And don your helms amain ; 
Death's couriers, Fame and Honour, call 

Us to the field again. 
No shrewish tears shall fill our eye. 

When the sword-hilt 's in our hand ; 
Heart-whole we 11 part, and no whit sigh 

For the fairest in the land. 

[22S] 



Let piping swain and craven wight 
Thus weep and puling cry ; 

Our business is like men to fight. 
And, like to heroes, die I 



[299] 



161 



TO LUCASTA. GOING TO THE 
WARRES 

TELL me not, (sweet,)! am unkinde, 
That fromi the nunnerie 
Of thy chaste breast and quiet minde 
To wane and arms I flie. 

True : a new Mistresse now I chase, 

The first foe in the field ; 
And with a stronger faith imbrace 

A sword, a horse, a shield. 

Yet this inconstancy is such. 

As you too shall adore ; 
I could not love thee, dear, so much, 

Lov'd I not Honour more. 



[230] 



162 

TO ALTHEA 

From Prison 

WHEN love with unconfined wings 
Hovers within my gates ; 
And my divine Althea brings 

To whisper at the grates ; 
When I lye tangled in her haire, 

And fettered to her eye, 
The birds, that wanton in the aire, 
Know no such liberty. 

When flowing cups run swiftly round 

With no allaying Thames, 
Our carelesse heads with roses bound, 

Our hearts with loyal flames ; 
When thirsty griefe in w^ine we steepe. 

When healths and draughts go free. 
Fishes, that tipple in the deepe. 

Know no such libertie. 

[231] 



When (like committed limiets) I 

With shriller throat shall sing 
The sweetnes, mercy, majesty. 

And glories of my King ; 
When I shall voyce aloud, how good 

He is, how great should be, 
Inlarged winds, that curie the flood. 

Know no such Uberty. 

Stone walls doe not a prison make, 

Nor iron bars a cage ; 
Mindes innocent and quiet take 

That for an hermitage ; 
If I have freedome in my love. 

And in my soule am free, 
Angels alone that sore above 

Enjoy such liberty. 



[232] 



163 



LOVE 



OLOVE, they wrong thee much 
That say thy sweet is bitter, 
When thy rich fruit is such 
As nothing can be sweeter. 
Fair house of joy and bliss, 
Where truest pleasure is, 
I do adore thee ; 
I know thee what thou art, 
I serve thee with my heart, 
And fall before thee. 



[233] 



164 

THERE IS A LADY SWEET 
AND KIND 

THERE is a Lady sweet and kind, 
Was never face so pleased my mind • 
I did but see her passing by, 
And yet I love her till I die. 

Her gesture, motion and her smiles, 

Her wit, her voice my heart beguiles. 

Beguiles my heart, I know not why. 

And yet I love her till I die. | 

i 

) ( 

Cupid is winged and doth range, ] 

Her country so my love doth change : i 

But change she earth, or change she sky, ^ 

Yet will I love her till I die. I 



[234] 



165 

LOVE NOT ME FOR COMELY 
GRACE 

LOVE not me for comely grace, 
For my pleasing eye or face, 
Nor for any outward part : 
No, nor for a constant heart ! 
For these may fail or turn to ill : 

So thou and I shall sever. 
Keep therefore a true woman's eye, 
And love me still, but know not why ! 
So hast thou the same reason still 

To doat upon me ever. 



[235] 



166 



BEAUTY SAT BATHING 

BEAUTY sat bathing by a spring 
Where fairest shades did hide her 
The winds blew calm, the birds did sing. 

The cool streams ran beside her. 
My wanton thoughts enticed mine eye 

To see what was forbidden. 

But better memory said Fie ; 

So vain desire was chidden. 

Into a slumber then I fell. 

And fond imagination 
Seemed to see, but could not tell 

Her feature or her fashion : 
But even as babes in dreams do smile 

And sometimes fall a-weeping. 
So I awaked as wise that while 

As when I fell a-sleeping. 



[236] 



167 



THE DURING BEAUTY 

HE that loues a rosie cheeke, 
Or a corrall lip admires ; 
Or from starlike eyes doth seeke 
Fewell to maintaine his fires : 
As olde Time makes these decay. 
So his flames must waste away. 

But a smooth and stedfast mind, 
Gentle thoughts and calme desires ; 

Hearts with equaU loue combin'd, 
Kindlesse neuer dying fires. 

Where these are not, I despise 

Louely cheekes or lips or eyes. 



[937] 



168 



WHY SO PALE AND WAN? 

WHY so pale and wan, fond lover ? 
Prithee why so pale ? 
Will, when looking well can't move her. 
Looking ill prevail ? 
Prithee why so pale ? 

Why so duU and mute, young sinner ? 

Prithee why so mute ? 
Will, when speaking well can't win her. 

Saying nothing do 't ? 

Prithee why so mute ? 

Quit, quit, for shame ; this will not move, 

This cannot take her ; 
If of herself she will not love. 

Nothing can make her : 

The devil take her ! 



[238] 



169 



WHAT CARE I? 

SHALL I, wasting in despaire 
Dye, because a woman 's fair ? 
Or make pale my cheeks with care 
Cause anothers Rosie are ? 
Be she fairer than the Day 
Or the flowry Meads in May, 
If she thinke not well of me, 
What care I how faire she be ? 

Shall my seely heart be pin'd 
Cause I see a woman kind ? 
Or a well disposed Nature 
Joyned with a lovely feature ? 

Be she Meeker, Kinder than 

Turtle-dove or Pellican: 

If she be not so to me, 

What care I how kind she be ? 

[239] 



Shall a woman's Vertues move 

Me to perish for her Love ? 

Or her wel deservings knowne 

Make me quite forget mine own ? 
Be she with that Goodness blest 
Which may merit name of best : 
If she be not such to me, 
What care I how Good she be ? 

Cause her Fortune seems too high 
Shall I play the fool and die ? 
She that beares a Noble mind. 
If not outward helpes she find. 

Thinks what with them he wold do, 
That without them dares her woe. 
And unlesse that Minde I see, 
What care I how great she be ? 

Great, or Good, or Kind, or Faire 
I will ne're the more despaire : 
If she love me (this beleeve) 
I will Die ere she shall grieve. 
If she slight me when I woe, 
I can scorne and let her goe. 
For if she be not for me 
What care I for whom she be ? 



[240] 



170 



WHO ERE SHE BE 

WHO ere she be, 
That not impossible she 
That shall command my heart and me ; 

Where ere she lye, 

Lock't up from mortall eye, 

In shady leaves of Destiny ; 

Till that ripe birth 

Of studied Fate stand forth. 

And teach her faire steps tread our Earth ; 

Till that divine 

Idaea, take a shrine 

Of chrystall flesh, through which to shine ; 

Meet you her, my wishes, 

Bespeake her to my blisses. 

And be ye call'd my absent kisses. 

Let her full glory, 

My fancyes, fly before ye. 

Be ye my fictions ; but her story. 

16 [ 241 ] 



171 



ROSALINE 

LIKE to the clear in highest sphere 
Where all imperial glory shines. 
Of selfsame colour is her hair 
Whether unfolded or in twines : 
Heigh ho, fair Rosaline ! 
Her eyes are sapphires set in snow, 

Resembling heaven by every wink ; 
The gods do fear whenas they glow, 
And I do tremble when I think 
Heigh ho, would she were mine ! 

Her cheeks are like the blushing cloud 

That beautifies Aurora's face. 
Or like the silver crimson shroud 

That Phoebus' smiling looks doth gi^ace 
Heigh ho, fair Rosaline ! 
Her lips are like two budded roses 

Whom ranks of liUes neighbour nigh. 
Within whose bounds she balm encloses 

Apt to entice a deity : 

Heigh ho, would she were mine I 

[243] 



Her neck like to a stately tower 

Where Love himself imprison'd lies. 
To watch for glances every hour 

From her divine and sacred eyes : 
Heigh ho, fair RosaUne ! 
Her paps are centres of delight, 

Her breasts are orbs of heavenly frame. 
Where Nature moulds the dew of light 

To feed perfection with the same : 
Heigh ho, would she were mine ! 

With orient pearl, with ruby red, 

With marble white, with sapphire blue. 
Her body every way is fed. 

Yet soft to touch and sweet in view : 
Heigh ho, fair Rosaline I 
Nature herself her shape admires ; 

The gods are wounded in her sight ; 
And Love forsakes his heavenly fires 

And at her eyes his brand doth Ught : 
Heigh ho, would she were mine ! 

Then muse not. Nymphs, though I bemoan 

The absence of fair Rosaline, 

Since for a fair there 's fairer none. 

Nor for her virtues so divine : 

Heigh ho, fair Rosaline ! 

Heigh ho, my heart ! would God that she were 

mine I 

[243] 



172 



EARINE 



HERE she was wont to go 1 and here 1 and 
here! 
Just where those daisies, pinks and violets 

grow: 
The world may find the Spring by following 

her; 
For other print her airy steps ne'er left. 
Her treading would not bend a blade of grass, 
Or shake the downy blow-ball from his stalk ! 
But Uke the soft west wind she shot along, 
And where she went, the flowers took thickest 

root. 
As she had sowed them with her odorous 

foot. 



[244] 



173 



THE SIRENS' SONG 

STEER, hither steer your winged pines. 
All beaten mariners ! 
Here lie Love's undiscover'd mines, 

A prey to passengers : 
Perfumes far sweeter than the best 
Which make the Phoenix' urn and nest. 

Fear not your ships, 
Nor any to oppose you save our lips ; 

But come on shore. 
Where no joy dies till Love hath gotten more. 

For swelling waves our panting breasts. 

Where never storms arise, 
Exchange, and be awhile our guests : 

For stars gaze on our eyes. 
The compass Love shall hourly sing, 
And as he goes about the ring, 

We will not miss 
To tell each point he nameth with a kiss. 

Then come on shore. 
Where no joy dies till Love hath gotten more. 

[245] 



174 



MY HEART IS HIGH ABOVE 

MY heart is high above, my body is full of 
bhss, 
For I am set in luve as well as I would wiss 
I luve my lady pure and she luvis me again, 
I am her serviture, she is my soverane ; 
She is my very heart, I am her howp and heill, 
She is my joy invart, I am her luvar leal ; 
I am her bond and thraU, she is at my com- 
mand ; 
I am perpetual her man, both foot and hand ; 
The thing that may her please my body sail 

ftilfil; 
Quhatever her disease, it does my body ill. 
My bird, my bonny ane, my tender babe 

venust. 
My luve, my life alane, my liking and my lust I 
We interchange our hairtis in others armis soft, 
Spriteless we twa depairtis, usand our luvis oft 

[24-6] 



We mourn when licht day dawis, we plain the 

nicht is short, 
We curse the cock that crawls, that hinderis 

our disport. 
I glowffin up aghast, quhen I her miss on 

nicht, 
And in my oxter fast I find the bowster richt ; 
Then languor on me lies Uke Morpheus the 

mair, 
Quhilk causes me uprise and to my sweet 

repair. 
And then is all the sorrow forth of remem- 
brance 
That ever I had a-forrow in luvis observance. 
Thus never I do rest, so lusty a life I lead, 
Quhen that I list to test the well of woman- 

heid. 
Luvaris in pain, I pray God send you sic 

remeid 
As I have nicht and day, you to defend from 

deid! 
Therefore be ever true unto your ladies free. 
And they will on you rue as mine has done on 

me. 



[247] 



175 



MADRIGAL 



MY Love in her attire doth show her wit. 
It doth so well become her ; 
For every season she hath dressings fit, 
For Winter, Spring, and Summer. 
No beauty she doth miss 

When aU her robes are on : 
But Beauty's self she is 

When all her robes are gone. 



[248 



176 

THE POETRY OF DRESS 

A SWEET disorder in the dresse 
Kindles in cloathes a wantoimesse 
A Lawne about the shoulders thrown 
Into a fine distraction : 
An erring Lace, which here and there 
Enthralls the Crimson Stomacher : 
A Cuffe neglectfuU, and thereby 
Ribbands to flow confusedly : 
A winning wave (deserving Note) 
In the tempestuous petticote : 
A carelesse shooe-string, in whose tye 
I see a wilde civilty : 
Doe more bewitch me, then when Art 
Is too precise in every part. 



[249] 



177 



THE THIEFE 

THOU rob'st my Daies of bus'nesse and 
delights, 
Of sleep thou rob'st my Nights ; 
Ah Lovely Thiefe, what wilt thou doe ? 
What ? Rob me of Heaven too ? 
Thou, even my prayers thou hauntest me ; 
And I, with wild Idolatry, 
Begin to God, and end them all to Thee. 



[250] 



178 



A THIEF m EITHER EYE 

I PRITHEE send me back my heart, 
Since I cannot have thine : 
For if from yours you will not part. 
Why then shouldst thou have mine ? 

Yet now I think on 't, let it lie. 
To find it were in vain. 
For th' hast a thief in either eye 
Would steal it back again. 



[251] 



179 



TO ROSES IN THE BOSOME OF 
CASTARA 

"\7TEE blushing Virgins happie are 
-L In the chaste Nunn'ry of her brests. 
For hee'd prophane so chaste a faire, 
Who ere should call them Cupids nests. 

Transplanted thus how bright yee grow, 
How rich a perfume doe yee yeeld ? 
In some close garden, Cowslips so 
Are sweeter then ith' open field. 

In those white Cloysters live secure 
From the rude blasts of wanton breath. 
Each houre more innocent and pure, 
Till you shall wither into death. 

Then that which living gave you roome, 
Yom' glorious sepulcher shall be. 
There wants no marble for a tombe. 
Whose brest hath marble beene to me. 

[252] 



180 



WITHOUT AND WITHIN 

LOVE in her sunny Eyes does basking 
play; 
Love walks the pleasant Mazes of her Haire ; 
Love does on both her Lips for ever stray ; 
And sows and reaps a thousand Kisses there. 
In all her outward parts Love 's alwaies seen ; 
But, oh, he never went within. 



[2531 



181 



LOVE'S HOROSCOPE 

O VE, brave Vertue's younger brother, 

Erst hath made my heart a mother ; 
Shee consults the conscious spheares 
To calculate her young son's yeares. 
Shee askes, if sad, or saving powers. 
Gave omen to his infant bowers ; 
Shee askes each starre that then stood by. 
If poore Love shall live or dy. 

Ah, my heart, is that the way ? 

Are these the beames that rule thy day ? 
Thou know'st a face in whose each looke, 
Beauty layes ope Love's fortune-booke ; 
On whose faire revolutions wait 
The obsequious motions of man's fate : 
Ah, my heart, her eyes, and shee. 
Have taught thee new astrologie. 
How e're Love's native houres were set. 
What ever starry sjmod met, 
'Tis in the mercy of her eye. 
If poore Love shall Uve or dye. 

[254] 



182 



WHILEST IT IS PRIME 

FRESH Spring, the herald of loves mighty 
king, 
In whose cote-armour richly are displayd 
All sorts of flowers, the which on earth do 

spring, 
In goodly colours gloriously arrayd — 
Goe to my love, where she is carelesse layd. 
Yet in her winters bowre not well awake ; 
Tell her the joyous time wil not be staid, 
Unlesse she doe him by the forelock take ; 
Bid her therefore her selfe soone ready make. 
To wayt on Love amongst his lovely crew ; 
Where every one, that misseth then her make. 
Shall be by him amearst with penance dew. 
Make hast, therefore, sweet love, whilest 

it is prime ; 
For none can call againe the passed time. 



[255] 



183 

TO CHLOE 

JFho wished herself young enough for me 

THERE are two births; the one when 
light 
First strikes the new awaken'd sense ; 
The other when two souls unite, 

And we must count our life from thence : 
When you loved me and I loved you 
Then both of us were born anew. 

Love then to us new souls did give 

And in those souls did plant new powers ; 

Since when another life we live, 

The breath we breathe is his, not ours : 

Love makes those young whom age doth 
chill, 

And whom he finds young keeps young still. 



[^Q^ 



184 



ON A GIRDLE 

THAT which her slender waist confined 
Shall now my joyful temples bind ; 
No monarch but would give his crown 
His arms might do what this has done. 

It was my Heaven's extremest sphere, 
The pale which held that lovely deer : 
My joy, my grief, my hope, my love. 
Did all within this circle move. 

A narrow compass ! and yet there 
Dwelt all that 's good, and all that 's fair I 
Give me but what this ribband bound. 
Take all the rest the sun goes round I 



[257] 



185 



ASK ME NO MORE 

ASK me no more where Jove bestows, 
When June is past, the fading rose ; 
For in your beauty's orient deep 
These flowers, as in their causes, sleep. 

Ask me no more whither do stray 
The golden atoms of the day ; 
For in pure love heaven did prepare 
Those powders to enrich your hair. 

Ask me no more whither doth haste 
The nightingale when May is past ; 
For in your sweet dividing throat 
She winters and keeps warm her note. 

Ask me no more where those stars 'light 
That downwards fall in dead of night ; 
For in your eyes they sit, and there 
Fixed become as in their sphere. 

Ask me no more if east or west 
The Phoenix builds her spicy nest ; 
For unto you at last she flies, 
And in your fragrant bosom dies. 

[258] 



186 



SHE 



THE growing Lilies bear her skin, 
The Violet her blue veins within ; 
The blushing Rose new blown and spread. 
Her sweeter cheek, her lip the red. 

The winds that wanton with the Spring 
Such odours as her breathing bring. 
But the resemblance of her eyes 
Was never found beneath the skies. 

Her charming voice, who strives to hit. 
His object, must be higher yet ; 
For heaven and earth, and all we see 
Dispersed, collected is but She ! 



[259] 



187 



TO THE LADY MAY 



YOUR smiles are not, as other women's 
be, 
Only the drawing of the mouth awry ; 
For breasts and cheeks and forehead we may 

Parts wanting motion, all stand smiling 
by: 
Heaven hath no mouth, and yet is said to 
smile 

After your style: 
No more hath earth, yet that smiles too. 
Just as you do. 

No simpering Ups nor looks can breed 
Such smiles as from your face proceed : 
The sun must lend his golden beams. 

Soft winds their breath, green trees their 

shade, 
Sweet fields their flowers, clear springs their 

streams. 
Ere such another smile be made : 
But these concurring, we may say 
" So smiles the spring and so smiles lovely 

May." 

[260] 



188 



THE LOUER 



II TY Girle, thou gazest much 
jJIJL vpon the Golden Skies : 
Would I were Heauen, I would behold 
thee then with all mine eies. 



[961] 



189 



FOND REMEMBRANCES 

AH 1 I remember well (and how can I 
But evermore remember well) when 

first 
Our flame began, when scarce we knew what 

was 
The flame we felt ; when as we sat and sighed 
And looked upon each other, and conceived 
Not what we ail'd, — yet something we did ail ; 
And yet were well, and yet we were not well, 
And what was our disease we could not tell. 
Then would we kiss, then sigh, then look : 

and thus 
In that first garden of our simpleness 
We spent our childhood. But when years 

began 
To reap the finit of knowledge, ah, how then 
Would she with graver looks, with sweet stern 

brow 
Check my presumption and my forwardness ; 
Yet still would give me flowers, still would me 

show 
What she would have me, yet not have me 

know. 

[ 262 ] 



190 

TO DELIA 
Sonnet XLI 

WHEN men shall find thy flower, thy 
glory pass: 
And thou with careful brow, sitting alone. 
Received hast this message, from thy glass ; 
That tells the truth, and says that "All is 

gone ! " 
Fresh shalt thou see in me, the wounds thou 

madest ; 
Though spent thy flame, in me the heat 

remaining. 
I that have loved thee thus before thou fadest. 
My faith shall wax, when thou art in thy 

waning ! 
The world shall find this miracle in me. 
That fire can burn, when all the matter 's spent. 

[263] 



Then what my faith hath been, thyself shalt 

seel 
And that thou wast unkind, thou may'st 

repent ! 
Thou may'st repent, that thou hast scorned 

my tears, 
When Winter snows upon thy golden hairs. 



[264] 



191 



WHEN THOU MUST HOME 

WHEN thou must home to shades of 
underground, 
And there arrived, a new admired guest. 
The beauteous spirits do engirt thee round, 
White lope, blithe Helen, and the rest. 
To hear the stories of thy finished love 
From that smooth tongue whose music hell 
can move ; 

Then wilt thou speak of banqueting delights. 
Of masques and revels which sweet youth did 

make. 
Of tourneys and great challenges of knights. 
And all these triumphs for thy beauty's sake : 
When thou hast told these honours done to 

thee. 
Then tell, O tell, how thou didst murder me. 



[265] 



192 



THE BROKEN HEART 

HOW many new years have grown old 
Since first your servant old was new ! 
How many long hours have I told 
Since first my love was vowed to you I 
And yet, alas ! she doth not know 
Whether her servant love or no. 



How often hath my pale lean face, 
With true characters of my love. 
Petitioned to you for grace, 
Whom neither sighs nor tears can move I 

cruel, yet do you not know 
Whether your servant love or no ? 

And wanting oft a better token, 

1 have been fain to send my heart. 
Which now your cold disdain hath broken, 
Nor can you heal 't by any art : 

O look upon 't, and you shall know 
Whether your servant love or no ? 

[S66] 



193 



WHY CANST THOU NOT? 

WHY canst thou not, as others do, 
Look on me with unwounding eyes ? 
And yet look sweet, but yet not so ; 

Smile, but not in killing wise ; 
Arm not thy graces to confound ; 
Only look, but do not wound. 

Why should mine eyes see more in you 
Than they can see in all the rest ? 

For I can others' beauties view. 
And not find my heart opprest. 

O be as others are to me. 

Or let me be more to thee. 



[967] 



194 



TRUE HEARTS 

WHERE waters smoothest run, deep are 
the fords; 
The dial stirs, yet none perceives it move ; 
The firmest faith is in the fewest words ; 
The turtles cannot siag, and yet they love ; 
True hearts have eyes and ears, no tongues to 

speak ; 
They hear, and see, and sigh, and then they 
break I 



[268] 



195 



COME, SLEEP 

COME, Sleep, and with thy sweet deceiv- 
ing. 
Lock me in delight a while ; 
Let some pleasing dreams beguile 
All my fancies ; that from thence 
1 may feel an influence, 
AU my powers of care bereaving 1 

Though but a shadow, but a sUding, 

Let me know some Uttle joy ! 

We that suffer long annoy 

Are contented with a thought. 

Through an idle fancy wrought : 
Oh, let my joys have some abiding I 



[969] 



196 



CARE-CHARMING SLEEP 

ARE-CHARMING Sleep, thou easer of 
all woes, 
Brother to Death, sweetly thyself dispose 
On this afflicted prince ; fall, hke a cloud, 
In gentle showers ; give nothing that is loud 
Or painful to his slumbers ; easy, hght. 
And as a purhng stream, thou son of Night, 
Pass by his troubled senses ; sing his pain. 
Like hollow murmuring wind or silver rain ; 
Into this prince gently, oh, gently slide. 
And kiss him into slumbers Hke a bride 1 



[2T0] 



197 



LOVELY MELANCHOLY 

HENCE, all you vain delights. 
As short as are the nights 

Wherein you spend your folly ! 
There 's nought in this life sweet. 
If man were wise to see 't. 

But only melancholy. 

Oh, sweetest melancholy I 
Welcome, folded arms, and fixed eyes, 
A sight that piercing mortifies, 
A look that 's fastened to the ground, 
A tongue chained up without a sound ! 

Fountain-heads, and pathless groves, 
Places which pale passion loves ! 
Moonlight walks, when all the fowls 
Are warmly housed, save bats and owls ! 

A midnight bell, a parting groan ! 

These are the sounds we feed upon ; 
Then stretch our bones in a still gloomy valley, 
Nothing's so dainty sweet as lovely melan- 
choly. 

[271] 



198 



DIRGE 

CALL for the robin-red-breast and the 
wren, 
Since o'er shady groves they hover, 
And with leaves and flowers do cover 
The friendless bodies of unburied men. 
Call unto his funeral dole 
The ant, the field-mouse, and the mole. 
To rear him hillocks that shall keep him warm, 
And (when gay tombs are robbed) sustain no 

harm; 
But keep the wolf far hence, that 's foe to men, 
For with his nails he '11 dig them up again. 



[972] 



199 



COME, HEAVY SOULS 

COME, heavy souls, oppressed with the 
weight 
Of crimes, or pangs, or want of your deUght ! 
Come down in Lethe's sleepy lake ; 
Whatever makes you ache ! 
Drink Healths from poisoned bowls ! 
Breathe out your cares, together with your 
souls! 
Cool Death 's a salve. 
Which all may have ! 
There 's no distinction in the grave ! 
Lay down your loads before Death's iron door ; 
Sigh, and sigh out I Groan once, and groan 
no more 1 



[273] 



200 



THE FINDING OF LOVE 

MY father oft would speak 
Your worth and virtue ; and, as I 
did grow 
More and more apprehensive, I did thirst 
To see the man so prais'd. But yet all this 
Was but a maiden-longing, to be lost 
As soon as found ; till, sitting in my window. 
Printing my thoughts in lawn, I saw a god, 
I thought, (but it was you,) enter our gates : 
My blood flew out and back again, as fast 
As I had pufTd it forth and suck'd it in 
Like breath : then was I call'd away in haste 
To entertain you. Never was a man, 
Heav'd from a sheep-cote to a sceptre, rais'd 
So high in thoughts as I : you left a kiss 
Upon these lips then, which I mean to keep 
From you for ever : I did hear you talk. 
Far above singing. After you were gone, 
I grew acquainted with my heart, and search'd 
What stirr'd it so : alas, I found it love ! 

[274] 



201 



ASPATIA'S SONG 

LAY a garland on my hearse 
Of the dismal yew ; 
Maidens, willow branches bear ; 
Say, I died true. 

My love was false, but I was firm 
From my hour of birth. 

Upon my buried body lie 
Lightly, gentle earth 1 



[275] 



202 



THE SURRENDER 

WE, that did nothing study but the way 
To love each other, with which 

thoughts the day 
Rose with delight to us and with them set, 
Must learn the hateful art, how to forget. 
We, that did nothing wish that Heaven could 

give 
Beyond ourselves, nor did desire to live 
Beyond that wish, all these now cancel must. 
As if not writ in faith, but words and dust. 
Yet witness those clear vows which lovers 

make. 
Witness the chaste desires that never brake 
Into unruly heats ; witness that breast 
Which in thy bosom anchor d his whole rest — 
'T is no default in us : I dare acquite 
Thy maiden faith, thy purpose fair and white 
As thy pure self. Cross planets did en^y 
Us to each other, and Heaven did imtie 

[276] 



Faster than vows could bind. Oh, that the 

stars. 
When lovers meet, should stand opposed in 

wars! 

Since then some higher Destinies command, 
Let us not strive, nor labour to withstand 
What is past help. The longest date of grief 
Can never yield a hope of our reUef : 
Fold back our arms ; take home our fruitless 

loves, 
That must new fortunes try, like turtle-doves 
Dislodged from their haunts. We must in 

tears 
Unwind a love knit up in many years. 
In this last kiss I here surrender thee 
Back to thyself. — So, thou again art free : 
Thou in another, sad as that, resend 
The truest heart that lover e'er did lend. 
Now turn from each : so fare our sever'd hearts 
As the divorced soul from her body parts. 



[2T7] 



203 



A LAST GOOD-NIGHT 

SLEEP on, my Love, in thy cold bed 
Never to be disquieted I 
My last good-night I Thou wilt not wake 
Till I thy fate shall overtake : 
Till age, or grief, or sickness must 
Marry my body to that dust 
It so much loves ; and fill the room 
My heart keeps empty in thy tomb. 
Stay for me there : I will not fail 
To meet thee in that hollow vale. 
And think not much of my delay : 
I am already on the way. 



[978] 



204 



WEEP NO MORE 



\\T EEP no more, nor sigh, nor groan ; 
▼ T Sorrow calls no time that 's gone : 
Violets pluck'd, the sweetest rain 
Makes not fresh nor grow again. 



[279] 



205 



TO DAFFADILLS 

FAIRE Daffadills, we weep to see 
You haste away so soone : 
As yet the early-rising Sun 
Has not attain'd his Noone. 
Stay, stay, 
Until the hasting day 

Has run 
But to the Even-song ; 
And, having pray'd together, we 
Will go with you along. 

We have short time to stay, as you, 

We have as short a Spring ; 
As quick a growth to meet Decay, 
As you, or any thing. 

We die. 
As your hours doe, and drie 

Away, 
Like to the Summers raine ; 
Or as the pearles of Mornings dew 
Ne'r to be found againe. 

[280] 



206 



THE POETS' PARADISE 

THERE in perpetual summer's shade 
Apollo's prophets sit, 
Among the flowers that never fade, 
But flourish like their wit. 

To whom the nymphs upon their l3rres 
Tune many a curious lay. 
And with their most melodious quires 
Make short the longest day. 

The thrice three Virgins heavenly clear, 
Their trembling timbrels sound. 
Whilst the three comely Graces there 
Dance many a dainty round. 

Decay nor age there nothing knows. 
There is continual youth. 
As time on plant or creatures grows, 
So still their strength renew'th. 

The poets' paradise this is, 
To which but few can come. 
The Muses' only bower of bliss. 
Their dear Elysium. 

[281] 



207 



POETRY 

INDEED, if you will look on poesy, 
As she appears in many, poor and lame, 
Pateh'd up in remnants, and old worn-out rags, 
Half-starv'd for want of her pecuhar food, 
Sacred invention ; then I must confirm 
Both your conceit and censure of her merit. 
But view her in her glorious ornaments. 
Attired in the majesty of art. 
Set high in spirit with the precious taste 
Of sweet philosophy, and, which is most, 
Crown'd with the rich traditions of a soul 
That hates to have her dignity profaned 
With any reUsh of an earthly thought ; 
Oh then how proud a presence does she bear ! 
Then is she like herself ; fit to be seen 
Of none but grave and consecrated eyes I 



[282] 



208 



THE ETERNITY OF SONG 

TIS not a Pyramide of marble stone, 
Though high as our ambition ; 
'T is not a tombe cut out in brasse ; which can 

Give Ufe to th' ashes of a man : 
But verses only ; they shall fresh appeare 

Whil'st there are men to read, or heare. 
When tyme shall make the lasting brasse 
decay. 

And eate the Pyramide away. 
Turning that monument wherein men trust 

Their names, to what it keepes, poore dust. 
Then, shall the Epitaph remayne, and bee 

New graven in Eternity. 
Poets by death are conquered, but the wit 

Of Poets triumph over it. 



[283] 



209 



HOMER 

SEAS, earth, and heaven, he did in verse 
comprise, 
Out-sung the Muses, and did equalize 
Their King Apollo ; being so far from cause 
Of Princes' hght thoughts, that their gravest 

laws 
May find stuff to be fashion'd by his lines. 
Through all the pomp of kingdoms still he 

shines. 
And graceth aU his gracers. Then let lie 
Your lutes and viols, and more loftily 
Make the heroics of your Homer sung ; 
To drums and trumpets set his angel's tongue, 
And, with the princely sport of hawks you use. 
Behold the kingly flight of his high Muse, 
And see how, like the phoenix, she renews 
Her age and starry feathers in your sun. 
Thousands of years attending ; every one 
Blowing the holy fire, and throwing in 
Their seasons, kingdoms, nations, that have 

been 

[284] 



Subverted in them ; laws, religions, all 
Offer'd to change and greedy funeral ; 
Yet stiU your Homer lasting, living, reigning. 
And proves how firm truth builds in poets' 
feigning. 



[285] 



210 



OUR ENGLISH POETS 

I PRAY you then, my friends, disdain not 
for to view 
The works and sugar'd verses fine of our rare 

poets new. 
Whose barb'rous language rude perhaps ye 

may misUke, 
But blame them not that rudely play if they 

the ball do strike. 
Nor scorn your Mother-Tongue, O babes of 

Enghsh breed I 
I have of other language seen, and you at fuU 

may read. 
Fine verses trimly wrought and couched in 

comely sort. 
But never I, nor you, I trow, in sentence plain 

and short 
Did yet behold with eye in any foreign tongue 
A higher verse, a stateUer style that may be 

read or sung 
Than is this day in deed our English verse 

and rhyme. 
The grace whereof doth touch the Gkxis and 

reach the clouds sometime. 

[286] 



211 



MEDEA SEEKS THE ENCHANTED 
HERBS 

THUS it befell upon a nyht, 
Whan ther was noght hot sterreliht, 
Sche was vanyssht riht as hir liste, 
That no wyht hot hirself it wiste, 
And that was ate mydnyht tyde. 
The world was stille on every side ; 
With open hed and fot al bare, 
Hir her tosprad sche gan to fare. 
Upon hir clothes gert sche was, 
Al specheles and on the gras 
Sche glod forth as an Addre doth. 



[287] 



212 



MEDEA LIGHTS THE WITCH-FIRE 

THE blake wether tho sehe tok. 
And hiewh the fleissh, as doth a cok ; 
On either alter part sehe leide, 
And with the charmes that sehe seide 
A fyr doun fro the Sky alyhte 
And made it forto brenne lyhte. 
Bot when Medea sawh it brenne, 
Anon sehe gan to sterte and renne 
The fyri aulters al aboute : 
There was no beste which goth oute 
More wylde than sehe semeth ther : 
Aboute hir schuldres hyng hir her, 
As thogh sehe were oute of hir mynde 
And torned in an other kynde. 



[288] 



213 



THE WITCH ORANDRA 

AN old decrepit hag she was, grown white 
- With frosty age, and withered with 

despite 
And self-consuming hate ; in furs yclad. 
And on her head a thrummy cap she had. 
Her knotty locks, like to Alecto's snakes, 
Hang down about her shoulders, which she 

shakes 
Into disorder; on her furrowed brow 
One might perceive Time had been long at 

plough. 
Her eyes, like candle-snuffs, by age sunk quite 
Into their sockets, yet like cats' eyes bright : 
And in the darkest night like fire they shined. 
The ever-open windows of her mind. 
Her swarthy cheeks. Time, that all things 

consumes. 
Had hollowed flat into her toothless gums. 
Her hairy brows did meet above her nose. 
That like an eagle's beak so crooked grows, 

W [ 289 ] 



It well-nigh kissed her chin ; thick bristled hair 
Grew on her upper lip, and here and there 
A rugged wart with grisly hairs behung ; 
Her breasts shrunk up, her nails and fingers 

long; 
Her left leant on a staff, in her right hand 
She always carried her enchanting wand. 



[290] 



214 



SLEEP 



BY him lay heavy Sleep, \he cousin oi Death, 
Flat on the ground, and still as any stone, 
A very corpse, save yielding forth a breath : 
Small keep took he, whom Fortune frowned on, 
Or whom she lifted up into the throne 
Of high renown ; but, as a Uving death. 
So, dead ahve, of life he drew the breath. 



[291] 



215 



OLD AGE 



OROOKBACK'D he was, tooth-shaken, 
and blear-eyed. 
Went on three feet, and sometime crept on 

four. 
With old lame bones that rattled by his side. 
His scalp all pill'd, and he with eld forlore ; 
His wither 'd fist still knocking at Death's door. 



[292] 



216 

^NEAS TELLS DIDO OF THE 

DEATH OF HIS FATHER AT 

THE HANDS OF PYRRHUS 

THIS butcher, whil'st his hands were yet 
held vp. 
Treading vpon his breast, strooke off his hands. 
At which the franticke Queene leapt on his 

face. 
And in his eyelids hanging by the nayles, 
A little while prolong'd her husbands life : 
At last, the souldiers puld her by the heeles, 
And swong her howUng in the emptie ayre. 
Which sent an eccho to the wounded King : 
Whereat he lifted vp his bedred lims. 
And would haue grappeld with Achilles' sonne. 
Forgetting both his want of strength and 

hands ; 
Which he, disdaining, whiskt his sword about. 
And with the wind thereof the King fell 

downe; 
Then from the nauell to the throat at once 
He ript old Priam, 

[293] 



217 



A FATHER, LOOKING ON HIS TWO 

DEAD CHILDREN WHOM HE HAS 

MURDERED 

HERE 'S weight enough to make a heart- 
string crack I 
O, were it lawful that your pretty souls 
Might look from heaven into your father s eyes. 
Then should you see the penitent glasses melt, 
And both your murders shoot upon my cheeks 1 
But you are plajdng in the angels' laps, 
And will not look on me. 



[994] 



218 

BARABAS IN HIS COUNTING- 
HOUSE, WITH HEAPS OF 
GOLD BEFORE HIM 

GIVE me the merchants of the Indian 
mines. 
That trade in metal of the purest mould ; 
The wealthy Moor, that in the eastern rocks 
Without control can pick his riches up. 
And in his house heap pearls Uke pebble-stones, 
Receive them free, and sell them by the weight ; 
Bags of fiery opals, sapphires, amethysts. 
Jacinths, hard topaz, grass-green emeralds. 
Beauteous rubies, sparkling diamonds. 
And seld-seen costly stones of so great price. 
As one of them indifferently rated. 
And of a carat of this quantity. 
May serve in peril of calamity 
To ransom great kings from captivity. 

But now how stands the wind ? 

Into what corner peers my halcyon's bill? 

[295] 



Ha I to the east ? yes : see, how stands the 

vanes ? 
East and by south : why then I hope my ships 
I sent for Egypt and the bordering isles 
Are gotten up by Nilus' winding banks : 
Mine argosy from Alexandria, 
Loaden with spice and silks, now under sail, 
Are smoothly gliding down by Candy shore 
To Malta, through our Mediterranean sea. 



[296] 



219 



AMBITION 

NATURE that framed us of four elements, 
Warring within our breasts for regiment, 
Doth teach us aU to have aspiring minds : 
Our souls, whose faculties can comprehend 
The wondrous architecture of the world. 
And measure every wandering planet's course. 
Still climbing after knowledge infinite. 
And always moving as the restless spheres. 
Wills us to wear ourselves, and never rest. 
Until we reach the ripest fruit of all. 
That perfect bUss and sole felicity, 
The sweet fruition of an earthly crown. 



[297] 



220 



THE MADCAP PRINCE OF WALES 

Hotspur, 

Where is his son. 

The nimble-footed madcap Prince of Wales, 

And his comrades, that daff 'd the world aside. 

And bid it pass ? 

Vernon, 

All fumish'd, all in arms ; 
All plumed like estridges that with the wind 
Baited like eagles having lately bathed ; 
Ghttering in golden coats, hke images ; 
As full of spirit as the month of May, 
And gorgeous as the sun at midsummer ; 
Wanton as youthful goats, wild as young bulls. 
I saw young Harry, with his beaver on, 
His cuisses on his thighs, gallantly aim'd, 
Rise from the ground hke feather 'd Mercury, 
And vaulted with such ease into his seat. 
As if an angel dropp'd down from the clouds, 
To turn and wind a fiery Pegasus, 
And witch the world with noble horsemanship. 

[298] 



221 



THE FLOWER, LOVE-IN-IDLENESS 

MY gentle Puck, come hither. Thou re- 
memberest 
Smce once I sat upon a promontory. 
And heard a mermaid, on a dolphin's back. 
Uttering such dulcet and harmonious breath. 
That the rude sea grew civil at her song. 
And certain stars shot madly from their 

spheres. 
To hear the sea-maid's music. 
That very time I saw, but thou couldst not. 
Flying between the cold moon and the earth, 
Cupid all arm'd : a certain aim he took 
At a fair vestal throned by the west. 
And loosed his love-shaft smartly from his bow. 
As it should pierce a hundred thousand hearts : 
But I might see young Cupid's fiery shaft 
Quench'd in the chaste beams of the watery 

moon, 

[299] 



And the imperial votaress passed on, 

In maiden meditation, fancy-free. 

Yet mark'd I where the bolt of Cupid fell : 

It fell upon a little western flower. 

Before milk-white, now purple with love's 

wound. 
And maidens call it love-in-idleness. 






[300] 



222 

THE FLOWERS FROM DISS 
WAGGON 

O PROSERPINA, 
For the flowers now, that frighted thou 
let'st fall 
From Dis's waggon I daffodils. 
That come before the swallow dares, and take 
The winds of March with beauty ; violets dim, 
But sweeter than the lids of Juno's eyes 
Or Cytherea's breath ; pale primroses, 
That die unmarried, ere they can behold 
Bright Phoebus in his strength, a malady 
Most incident to maids ; bold oxlips and 
The crown imperial ; lilies of all kinds. 
The flower-de-luce being one 1 



[301] 



223 



THE FADING PAGEANT 



THESE our actors. 
As I foretold you, were all spirits, and 
Are melted into air, into thin air : 
And, like the baseless fabric of this vision, 
The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces. 
The solemn temples, the great globe itself, 
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve. 
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded. 
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff 
As dreams are made on ; and our little life 
Is rounded with a sleep. 



[302] 



224 



SAMSON AND HARAPHA 

Sainson. 

Boast not of what thou would'st have done, 

but do 
What then thou would'st ; thou seest it in thy 

hand. 
Harapha, 

To combat with a bUnd man 1 disdain, 
And thou hast need much washing to be 

touched. 
Sanison, 

Such usage as your honourable lords 
Afford me, assassinated and betrayed ; 
Who durst not with their whole united powers 
In fight withstand me single and unarmed. 
Nor in the house with chamber-ambushes 
Close-banded durst attack me, no, not sleeping. 
Till they had hired a woman with their gold. 
Breaking her marriage-faith, to circumvent me. 
Therefore, without feign'd shifts, let be assigned 
Some narrow place enclosed, where sight may 

give thee, 

[303] 



Or rather flight, no great advantage on me ; 
Then put on all thy gorgeous arms, thy helmet 
And brigandine of brass, thy broad habergeon, 
Vant-brace and greaves and gauntlet ; add thy 

spear, 
A weaver's beam, and seven-times-folded 

shield : 
I only with an oaken staff will meet thee. 
And raise such outcries on thy clattered iron. 
Which long shall not withhold me from thy 

head. 
That in a little time, while breath remains thee. 
Thou oft shalt wish thyself at Gath, to boast 
Again in safety what thou would'st have done 
To Samson, but shalt never see Gath more. 



[304] 



225 



SATAN ON HIS THRONE 

THERE on's immortal throne of Death 
they see 
Their mounted Lord; whose left hand proudly 

held 
His Globe, (for all the world he claims to be 
His proper realm,) whose bloody right did 
weild 
His Mace, on which ten thousand serpents 

knit. 
With restless madness gnaw'd themselves, 
and it. 

His insolent feet all other footstools scorn'd 
But what compleatest Scorn to them sug- 
gested ; 
This was a Cross; yet not erect, but turn d 
Peevishly down. .... 
...... 

»> [305] 



His awful Horns above his crown did rise, 
And force his fiends to shrink in theirs : 

his tawny Teeth 

Were ragged grown by endless gnashing at 
The dismal Riddle of his living Death, 



[306] 



226 



SATAN IN ARMS 

HE scarce had ceased when the superior 
Fiend 
Was moving toward the shore ; his ponderous 

shield, 
Ethereal temper, massy, large, and round. 
Behind him cast. The broad circumference 
Hung on his shoulders like the moon, whose 

orb 
Through optic glass the Tuscan artist views 
At evening, from the top of Fesole, 
Or in Valdarno, to descry new lands. 
Rivers, or mountains, in her spotty globe. 
His spear — to equal which the tallest pine 
Hewn on Norwegian hills, to be the mast 
Of some great ammiral, were but a wand — 
He walked with, to support uneasy steps 
Over the burning marie, not like those steps 
On Heaven's azure ; and the torrid clime 
Smote on him sore besides, vaulted with fire. 
[ 3or ] 



Nathless he so endured, till on the beach 
Of that inflamed sea he stood, and called 
His legions — Angel Forms, who lay entranced 
Thick as autumnal leaves that strow the brooks 
In Vallombrosa, where the Etrurian shades 
High over-arched embower ; or scattered sedge 
Afloat, when with fierce winds Orion armed 
Hath vexed the Red-Sea coast, whose waves 

oerthrew 
Busiris and his Memphian chivalry. 

He called so loud that aU the hollow deep 
Of Hell resounded : 

" Awake, arise, or be forever fallen 1 " 



[308] 



227 



THE FALLEN ANGELS GATHER 
TO WAR 

THAT proud honour claimed 
Azazel as his right, a Cherub tall : 
Who forthwith from the glittering staff im- 

furled 
The imperial ensign ; which, full high advanced. 
Shone "hke a meteor streaming to the wind. 
With gems and golden lustre rich emblazed, 
Seraphic arms and trophies ; all the while 
Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds : 
At which the universal host up-sent 
A shout that tore Hell's concave, and beyond 
Frighted the reign of Chaos and old Night. 
All in a moment through the gloom were seen 
Ten thousand banners rise into the air. 
With orient colours waving : with them rose 
A forest huge of spears ; and thronging hehns 
Appeared, and serried shields in thick array 
Of depth immeasurable. Anon they move 
In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood 
Of flutes and soft recorders — such as raised 

[309] 



To highth of noblest temper heroes old 
Arming to battle, and instead of rage 
Deliberate valour breathed. . . . 

• • • • • • 

Thus they, 
Breathing united force, with fixed thought. 
Moved on in silence to soft pipes that charmed 
Their painful steps o'er the burnt soil. 

Never, since created Man, 
Met such embodied force as, named with these. 
Could merit more than that small infantry 
Warred on by cranes — though all the giant 

brood 
Of Phlegra with the heroic race were joined 
That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each side 
Mixed with auxiliar gods ; and what resounds 
In fable or romance of Uther's son. 
Begirt with British and Armoric knights ; 
And all who since, baptized or infidel. 
Jousted in Aspramont, or Montalban, 
Damasco or Marocco, or Trebisond, 
Or whom Biserta sent from Afric shore 
When Charlemain with aU his peerage fell 
By Fontarabbia. 



[310] 



228 



EARTH DEAF AND BLIND 

GOE to, goe to ; thou liest, Philosophy, 
Nature formes things unperfect, use- 
lesse, vaine. 
Why made she not the earth with eyes and 

eares? 
That she might see desert, and heare men's 

plaints : 
That when a soule is splited, sunke with griefe. 
He might fall thus, upon the breast of earth ; 
And in her eare, halloo his misery : 
Exclaiming thus, O thou all-bearing earth. 
Which men doe gape for, till thou cramst 

their mouths. 
And choakst their throts with dust: O chaune 

thy brest. 
And let me sinke into thee. Looke who 

knocks ; 
Andrugio cals. 



[311] 



229 



ANTONIO SLAYS THE BOY JULIO 

NOW barkes the wolfe against the fulle 
cheekt moon ; 
Now lyons half-elamd entrals roare for food ; 
Now croakes the toad, and night crowes 

screech aloud, 
Fluttering 'bout casements of departed soules ; 
Now gapes the graves, and through their 

yawnes let loose 
Imprison'd spirits to revisit earth ; 
And now swarte night, to swell thy hower out, 
Behold I spmt warme bloode in thy blacke 

eyes. 



[312] 



230 



DEAD 

HE is gone, that in 
The morning promised many years ; but 
death 
Hath in a few hours made him as stiff as all 
The winds of winter had thrown cold upon 

him, 
And whisper'd him to marble. 



[313] 



231 



THE DEAD BODY 

Ferdinand, 
Is she dead ? 
Bosolu, 
She is what 
You 'd have her. 

• • • 
Fix your eye here. 
Ferdinand, 
Constantly, 
JBosola, 

Do you not weep ? 

Other sins only speak ; murder shrieks out : 
The element of water moistens the earth, 
But blood flies upwards and bedews the 

heavens. 
Ferdinand, 
Cover her face ; mine eyes dazzle : she died 

young. 



[314] 



232 



VENDICE, THE SKULL OF HIS 
BETROTHED IN HIS HAND 

HERE 'S an eye, 
Able to tempt a great man — to serve 

God: 
A pretty hanging lip, that has forgot now to 

dissemble. 
Methinks this mouth should make a swearer 

tremble ; 
A drunkard clasp his teeth, and not undo 'em, 
To suffer wet damnation to run through 'em. 
Here 's a cheek keeps her colour, let the wind 

go whistle. 

Does every proud and self-affecting dame 
Camphire her face for this, and grieve her 

Maker 
In sinful baths of milk, when many an infant 

starves 

(315] 



For her superfluous outside — all for this ? 

Here might a scornful and ambitious woman 
Look through and through herself See, ladies, 

with false forms 
You deceive men, but cannot deceive worms. 



[316] 



233 



THE SKELETONS 



THIS dismal gall'ry, lofty, long, and wide ; 
Was hung with skeletons of ev'ry kind ; 
Human, and all that learned human pride 
Thinks made t' obey man's high immortal 
mind. 

Yet on that wall hangs he too, who so thought ; 
And she dry'd by him, whom that he obey'd. 



[3171 



234 



DROWNED 

HE lay in 's armour, as if that had been 
His coffin ; and the weeping sea, like 
one 
Whose milder temper doth lament the death 
Of him whom in his rage he slew, runs up 
The shore, embraces him, kisses his cheek, 
Goes back again, and forces up the sands 
To bury him, and every time it parts 
Sheds tears upon him, till at last (as if 
It could no longer endure to see the man 
Whom it had slain, yet loth to leave him) with 
A kind of unresolved unwilling pace. 
Winding her waves one in another, Hke 
A man that folds his arms or wrings his hands 
For grief, ebbed from the body, and descends 
As if it would sink down into the earth. 
And hide itself for shame of such a deed. 



[318] 



235 



CALANTHA, THE KING'S DAUGH- 
TER, OVER THE DEAD BODY OF 
ITHOCLES 

NOW I turn to thee, thou shadow 
Of my contracted lord 1 bear witness 
aU, 
I put my mother's wedding-ring upon 
His finger ; 't was my father's last bequest : 
Thus 1 new-marry him, whose wife 1 am ; 
Death shall not separate us. Oh, my lords, 
I but deceiv'd your eyes with antick gesture. 
When one news straight came huddling on 

another. 
Of death, and death, and death, still I danc'd 

forward ; 
But it struck home, and here, and in an instant. 
Be such mere women, who, with shrieks and 

outcries 
Can vow a present end to all their sorrows. 
Yet live to vow new pleasures, and outlive 

them : 
They are the silent griefs which cut the heart- 
strings ; 
Let me die smiling. 

[319] 



236 



DEATH 



Til IS of all sleeps the sweetest : 
X. Children begin it to us, strong men 
seek it. 
And kings from height of all their painted 

glories 
Fall Uke spent exhalations to this centre. 



[320] 



237 
THE SONS OF FORTUNE 



TTTE are all, my lord. 



The sons of Fortune ; she has sent us 
forth 
To thrive by the red sweat of our own merits. 



[sn] 



238 



THE BOOK OF HONOUR 

THE painful warrior famoused for fight, 
After a thousand victories once foil'd. 
Is from the book of honour razed quite, 
And all the rest forgot for which he toil'd. 



[322] 



239 



PATIENCE 

PATIENCE, my lordl why, 'tis the soul 
of peace ; 
Of all the virtues 't is nearest kin to Heaven ; 
It makes men look like gods. The best of 

men 
That e'er wore earth about him was a sufferer, 
A soft, meek, patient, humble, tranquil spirit. 
The first true gentleman that ever breathed. 
The stock of patience then cannot be poor ; 

'T is the perpetual prisoner's liberty. 
His walks and orchards. 



[323 



240 



A FRIEND 

WHAT ? Take heed, do not profane. 
Wouldst thou be more than friend ? 
it is a name 
Virtue can only answer to. Couldst thou 
Unite in one all goodness whatsoe'er 
Mortality can boast of, thou shalt find 
The circle narrow-bounded to contain 
This swelling treasure ; every good admits 
Degrees, but this, being so good, it cannot : 
For he is no friend is not superlative. 
Indulgent parents, brethren, kindred, tied 
By the natural flow of blood, alliances, 
And what you can imagine, is too light 
To weigh with th' name of friend : they exe- 
cute, 
At best, but what [their] nature prompts them 

to. 
Are often less than friends, when they remain 
Our kinsmen stiU ; but friend is never lost. 

[3241 



D 



241 



LAMENT FOR CHAUCER 

ETHE was to hastyfe. 

To reime on the and reve the thy lyfe. 



She myght han taryed hir vengeaunce a while. 
Til that som man hade egalle to the be. 
Nay, lete be that ! she knewe wele that this yle 
May neuer man forth brynge like to the. 
And hir office nedes do mote she ; 
God bade hir so, 1 truste as for the beste, 
O maister, maister, god thy soule reste ! 



[325] 



242 

ON THE DEATH OF WILLIAM 
SHAKESPEARE 

RENOWNED Spenser, lie a thought 
more nigh 
To learned Chaucer ! and, rare Beaumont, lie 
A little nearer Spenser I to make room 
For Shakespeare in your threefold, fourfold, 

tomb. 
To lodge aU four in one bed, make a shift 
Until Doomsday ! for hardly will a fifth 
Betwixt this day and that, by Fates be slain : 
For whom your cuitains may be drawTi again ! 
If your precedency in death do bar 
A fourth place in your sacred sepulchre ; 
Under this sacred marble of thine o^vn, 
Sleep, rare Tragedian ! Shakespeare ! sleep 

alone 
Thy unmolested peace, in an unshared cave! 
Possess as Lord, not tenant, of thy grave 1 
That unto us and others, it may be 
Honour hereafter to be laid by thee. 

[326] 



243 



TO THE MEMORY 

OF MY BELOVED, THE AUTHOR, 

MASTER WILLIAM 

SHAKESPEARE 

SOUL of the Age! 
The applause, dehght, and wonder, of our 
Stage ! 
My Shakespeare, rise ! I will not lodge thee by 
Chaucer, or Spenser ; or bid Beaumont he 
A Uttle further, to make thee a room ! 
Thou art a Monument, without a tomb I 
And art alive still, while thy Book doth live ; 
And we have wits to read, and praise to give. 

That I not mix thee so, my brain excuses ; 
I mean, with great, but disproportioned, 

Muses : 
For, if I thought my judgement were of years, 
I should commit thee, surely, with thy peers I 
And tell, how far thou didst our Lyly outshine ; 
Or sporting Kyd, or Marlow's mighty line. 

[32T] 



And though thou hadst small Latin, and less 

Greek; 
From thence, to honour thee, I would not seek 
For names: but call forth thund'rmg ^s- 

chylus, 
Euripides, and Sophocles to us ! 
Paccuvius, Accius, him of Cordova dead. 
To life again ! to hear thy Buskin tread 
And shake a Stage ! Or when thy Sock was on, 
Leave thee alone ! for the comparison 
Of all that insolent Greece, or haughty Rome, 
Sent forth ; or since did, from their ashes come. 



[328] 



244 

ON THE TOMBS IN 
WESTMINSTER 

MORTALITY, behold, and fear ! 
What a change of flesh is here ! 
Think how many royal bones 
Sleep within this heap of stones : 
Here they lie had realms and lands. 
Who now want strength to stir their hands ; 
Where from their pulpits, soil'd with dust. 
They preach, " In greatness is no trust." 
Here 's an acre sown indeed 
With the richest, royal'st seed. 
That the earth did e'er suck in 
Since the first man died for sin : 
Here the bones of earth have cried, 
" Though gods they were, as men they died " 
Here are sands, ignoble things, 
Dropt from the ruin'd sides of kings : 
Here 's a world of pomp and state 
Buried in dust, once dead by fate. 

[329] 



245 I 



THE MASTER SPIRIT 

GIVE me a spirit that on this life's rough 
sea 
Loves t' have his sails fill'd with a lusty wind, 
Ev'n till his sail-yards tremble, his masts crack. 
And his rapt ship run on her side so low 
That she drinks water, and her keel plows air. 
There is no danger to a man that knows 
What life and death is : there 's not any law 
Exceeds his knowledge ; neither is it lawful 
That he should stoop to any other law. 
He goes before them, and commands them all. 
That to himself is a law rational. 



[330] 



246 



MAN IS HIS OWN STAR 

MAN is his own star, and the soul, that can 
Render an honest and a perfect man, 
Commands all light, all influence, all fate ; 
Nothing to him falls early or too late. 



[331] 



I 



247 



WHEN DEATH CALLS YE 

VICTORIOUS men of earth, no more 
Proclaim how wide your empires are ; 
Though you bind in every shore 
And your triumphs reach as far 

As night or day. 
Yet you, proud monarchs, must obey 
And mingle with forgotten ashes when 
Death calls ye to the crowd of common men. 



[332] 



248 



OUR BLOOD AND STATE 

THE glories of our blood and state 
Are shadows, not substantial things ; 
There is no armour against Fate ; 
Death lays his icy hand on kings : 
Sceptre and crown 
Must tumble down. 
And in the dust be equal made 
With the poor crooked scythe and spade. 

Some men with swords may reap the field. 
And plant fresh laurels where they kill ; 
But their strong nerves at last must yield ; 
They tame but one another still : 
Early or late. 
They stoop to fate. 
And must give up their murmuring breath. 
When they, pale captives, creep to death. 

[333] 



The garlands wither on your brow. 

Then boast no more your mighty deeds ; 
Upon Death's purple altar now. 
See where the victor- victim bleeds : 
Your heads must come 
To the cold tomb ; 
Only the actions of the just 
Smell sweet and blossom in their dust. 



/ 



[334] 



249 



THE VOICE OF THE STAR 

IT tells the Conqueror, 
That farre-stretcht powre 
Which his proud dangers traffique for, 
Is but the triumph of an houre. 

That from the farthest North ; 
Some Nation may 
Yet undiscovered issue forth, 
And ore his new got conquest sway. 

Some Nation yet shut in 
With hils of ice 
May be let out to scourge his sinne 
' Till they shall equall him in vice. 

And then they likewise shall 
Their mine have. 
For as your selves your Empires fall. 
And every Kingdome hath a grave. 

[335] 



/ 



NOTES 



NOTES 

NVMBSB 

1 Robert Mannyng of Brunne, c. 1288-1338. 

2 James I. of Scotland, 1394-1437. 

From the Kiv^is Qaair (1783), stans. 42-3, 46-7. 

3 Anon. c. 1300. 

From Ritsons's Ancient Songs and Ballads. The present text 
is Dr. Boddeker's. 

4 John Skelton, 1460 ?-l 529. 

Original title is To maystres Margaret Husseg. 

5 Edmund Spenser, 1552?-! 599. 
Original title is A Ditty. 

6 Anon. 

From Tottel's Miscellany. 1557. 

7 Sir Henry Wotton, 1568-1639. 

Addressed to Elizabeth, daughter of James I. Printed in 
Michaell Est's Sixt Set ofBookes. 1624. 

8 Geoffrey Chaucer, 1340P-1400. 
9-13 Geoffrey Chaucer, 1340P-1400. 

From the Prologue to the Canterbury Tales^ written about 
1387, first printed by Caxton. 1475. 

14 Anon. c. 1250. 

Perhaps the oldest song in the English language. 

15 From the Song of Songs^ Chap. ii. 

16 Ben Jonson, 1573 P-1637. 

From the Vision of Delight; a masque presented at Court, 
1617. 

17 John Milton, 1608-1674. 

[339] 



NOHBEB 

18 William Dunbar, 1465 P-1530 ? 

Third stanza of the Goldyn Targe^ 1508. 

19 Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey^ 1517 P-1547. 

20 Sir Henry Wotton, 1568-1639. 

Original title i&OnA Banck as I Sate A-Fishing ; A Descrip- 
tion of the Spring. 

21 Alexander Hume, 1560 F-1609. 
Original title is Of the Day Estivall. 

22 Henry Vaughan, 1622-1695. 

From Second Part of Silex Scintillans, 1655. 

23 Andrew MarveU, 1621-1678. 
Original title. On A Drop of Dew. 

24 John Lydgate, 1370P-1451 ? 

From the Troy-Boke (1513), Bk. 1, c vL 

25 William Dunbar, 1465 P-1530? 

1 The Thrissill and the Bois, 1503. 

2 The Ooldyn Targe. 

26 Edmimd Spenser, 1552 P-1599. 

(1) The Faerie Queene, Bk. 2, can. 3, stan. 1. (1590-1596). 

(2) The Faerie Qiieene, Bk. 1, can. 5, stan. 2. 

27 John Marston, 1575 P-1634. 

(1) Antonio^s Revenge^ Act 1, sc 1. 

(2) Antonio^s Revenge^ Act 1, sc 3. 

28 BenJonson, 1573P-1637. 
From the Masqus of Oberon. 

29 William Shakespeare, 1564-1616. 
Sonnet XXXHI. 

30 William Shakespeare, 1564^1616. 
Borneo and Juliet^ Act 3, sc. 5, 1. 7. 

31 Henry Vaughan, 1622-1695. 

From The Bee^ in Thalia Bedivfoa, 1678. 

32 Guidubaldo Bonarelli della Rovere, 1563-1608. 

From Filli di Sciro (Ferrare, 1607) ; translation attributed to 
Jonathan Sidnam. London, 1655. 

33 Dafydd ab Gwilym,/. 14th cent 

[340] 



NlTKBSB 

34 John MUton, 1G08-1674. 

II Penseroso, written 1632 ? (1645). 1. 65. 

35 John Milton, 1608-1674. 
Comus, written 1634 (1637), 1. 93. 

36 John Fletcher, 1579-1625. 

The Faithful Shepherdess (1609-10), Act 2, sc. 1. 

37 Francis Quarles, 1592-1644. 

The Shepheards Oracles (1646), egL v. • 

38 Henry Vaughan, 1622-1695. 

From The Night, in Silex ScirUillans, part ii. (1655). 

39 Taliesin,/. 550. 

40 Anon. 

From Thomas Campion's Third Book of Ayres, 1612. 

41 Robert Henryson, or Henderson, 1430 P-1506 ? 
From the Preaching of the Swallow. 

42 William Dmibar, 1465P-1530? 
First two stans. omitted. 

43 Thomas Vaux ? 2 Baron Vaux of Harrowden, 1510-1556. 
From The Aged Loiter Renounceth Loue, Tottel's Miscellany , 

1557. 

44 Andrew Marvell, 1621-1678. 
From lines, To His Coy Mistress. 

45 Sir Walter Ralegh ? 1552P-1618. 

The last stan. of a poem of six stans. , discovered by Bullen 
in Harl. ms. 6917, fol. 48. 

46 Thomas Hales, /. 1250. 
Modernized from A Luue Ron. 

47 James Macpherson, 1736-1796. 
Close of the Songs of Selma. 

48 William Dunbar, 1465 P-1530? 
[Lament for the Makaris], stans. 5-8. 

49 Thomas Nash or Nashe, 1567-1601. 

Stans. 3-4 of Summers Last Will and Testament, 1600. 

50 Thomas Flatman, 1637-1688. 

51 Andrew Marvell, 1621-1678. 

Stans. 15-16 of Iloratian Ode, 1650, first prmted, 1776. 
[341] 



NCMBEH 

52 Stephen Hawes, d. 1523? 

From the Passetyme of Pleasure (1509), Cap. xliL 

53 John Donne, 1573-1631. 
Holy Sonnets X. 

54 Henry Vaughan, 1622-1695. 

From Second Part of Silex ScintillanSj 1655. 

55 Thomas Stemhold, d. 1549. 
Ps. xviii, 9-10. 

56 Robert Henryson or Henderson, 1430 P-1506 ? 
Stan. 1 of The Ahhay Walk. 

57 Anon. 

Christ Church ms. 

58 William Drummond of Hawthornden, 1585-1649. 

59 Anon. 

The present extract begins at line 145. 

60 Anon. 

Extract begins at line 41. 

61 Anon. 

62 Anon. 

Modernized version of a very ancient Scottish song. 

63 Anon. 
Scottish version. 

64 Anon. 

Closing stanzas of the ballad Baronne O'Gairtly. 

65 Anon. 

66 Anon. 

From Wright's Sof^s and Carols. 

67 Anon. 

From the Roxburghe Ballads (1560-1700), the first two of five 
stanzas. 

68 Thomas Heywood, 157-P-1650? 

69 Edmund Spenser, 1552 P-1599. 

The Faerie QueenSy Bk. i, c. 3, s. 4. (1590-1596). 

70 Anon. 

The second stan. of Cupid's Pastime. 
[342] 



Number 

71 Anon. 

Lord Thomas and Fair Annet^ 1. 61-68. 

72 Anon. 

73 Anon. 

From Musarum Delicue^ 1655. Attributed to Sir John 
Mennis and Dr. James Smith. 

74 Sir David Lindsay or Lyndsay, 1490-1555. 

From Ane Pleasant Satyre of the Thrie Estaitis in Commen- 
datioun of Vertew and Vituperatioun of Vyce. Produced 
1540. 

75 Francis Quarles, 1592-1644. 
Job Militant^ sec. xiv. 

76 Anon. 

From the ScoU-HowsBy wherein every man may rede a goodly 
prayse of the Condycyons of Women. Printed by Robert 
Wyer, c. 1542. 

77 Bartholomew Griffin, fl. 1596. 

78 Sir Thomas Wyatt, 1503P-1542. 

Original title is The Lover Beseecheth his Mistress. . . . 

79 Sir Thomas Wyatt, 1503P-1542. 

Original title. That Faith is Deady and True Love Disregarded. 

80 Alexander Scott, 1525 P-1584? 

Modernized version of the Lament of the Maister ofErshyn. 

81 Henry Howard, Earl of Surreu, 1517 P-1547. 

Closing lines of Separated from the Fair Geraldine. . . , 

82 Sir Philip Sidney, 1554-1586. 

83 Joshua Sylvester, 1563-1618. 

84 Joshua Sylvester, 1563-1618. 

First printed in Davison's Poetical Bapsodyy 1602. 

85 Joshua Sylvester, 1563-1618. 

86 Sir Walter Ralegh P 1552 P-1618. 
First printed m 1608. 

87 Francis Bacon, 1561-1626. 

88 William Druramond of Hawthomden, 1585-1649. 
Original title is Madrigal. 

[343] 



NlTHBES 

89 Henry Vaughan, 1622-1695. 

(1) Silex Scintillans. Pt 1 (1650). 

(2) Silex Scintillans. Pt. 2 (1655). 

90 Robert SouthweU, 1561 P-1595. 

91 Robert Southwell, 1561 P-1595. 
Original title is Content and Bich. 

92 Sir Edward Dyer, A 1607. 

93 Thomas Vaux, 2 Baron Vatix of Harroroden, 1510-1556. 
From the Paradise of Daintie Devises. 

94 George Chapman, 1559? -1634. 
From the Tears of Peace, 1609. 

95 Sir Henry Wotton, 1568-1639. 

96 Anon. 

From John Wilbye's Second Set of Madrigals, 1609. First 
line is There is a Jewell which no Indian Mines. 

97 Robert Southwell, 1561 ? -1595. 

Original title is Scorn not the Least. From St. Peter's Com- 
plaint, 1595. 

98 Fulke Greville, Lord Brooke, 1554-1628. 

Stan. 144 of A Treatie of Humane Learning, 1633. 

99 Edmund Spenser, 1552 P-1599. 

The Faerie Queene, Bk. i, c. v, s. L 1590-1596. 

100 Andrew Marvell, 1621-1678. 

From the Horatian Ode, 1650, first printed, 1776. 

101 Francis Quarles, 1592-1644. 

From Job Militant (1624) sec. iii, Meditatio Tertia, 

102 Francis Quarles, 1592-1644. 

From Divine Fancies (1632) Lib. iiii, 94. 

103 George Herbert, 1592-1633. 

104 Francis Quarles, 1592-1644. 

105 Richard Crashaw, 1613 P -1649. 

In Praise of Lesmis's Rule of Health, L 15. 

106 Dr. Henry More, 1614-1687. 

The Immortality of the Soul, stan. 13. 

107 Robert Fletcher,/. 1586. 

[344] 



NUMBBB 

108 Sir Henry Wotton, 1568-1639. 

109 Samuel Daniel, 1562-1619. 
From Tethys' Festival, 1610. 

110 John MUton, 1608-1674. 
Paradise regained. Bk. iv, 1. 237, 

111 John Chalkhill,;?. 1600. 

From a pastoral romance, Thealma and CUarchuSy pub. by 
Izaak Walton, 1683. 

112 Michael Drayton, 1563-1631. 

113 John Davies of Hereford, 1565 P-1618. 
From the Scourge of Folly y 1611. 

114 John MUton, 1608-1674. 

115 John MUton, 1608-1674. 

Arcades (1645), 1. 61. 

116 John Milton, 1608-1674. 

117 John MUton, 1608-1674. 

118 WUliam Strode, c. 1600-1644. 
From Wit Restored, 1658. 

119 John Milton, 1608-1674. 
CoT/m* (1637), L 249. 

120 Richard Crashaw, 1613 P-1649. 
First appeared in Delights, 1646. 

121 WUliam Browne, 1591-1643? 

Britannia's Pastorals (1613), Bk. i, song 3. 

122 Ben Jonson, 1573 P-1637. 
From Pan's Anniversary. 

123 John Milton, 1608-1674. 
Comus (1637), 1. 76. 

124 Dr. Joseph Beaumont, 1616-1629, 
Psyche (1648), can. vi, stan. 223. 

125 Christopher Marlowe, 1564-1593. 

Hero and Leander, completed by George Chapman and 
published 1598, 1 sest. 1. 5. 

126 Christopher Marlowe, 1564-1593. 

127 George Chapman, 1559 P-1634. 

[345] 



Number 

128 William Shakespeare, 1564-1616. 
Ant. and Cleo. Act ii, sc. ii, L 195. 

129 Edmund Spenser, 1552 ?-1599. 

The Faerie Queene (1590), Bk. i, canto 1, s. 34. 

130 Edmund Spenser, 1552 P-1599. 

The Faerie Queene y Bk. 1, can. 1, s. 41. 

131 Edmund Spenser, 1552 P-1599. 

The Faerie Qtieene, Bk. ii, can. 12, s. 70. 

132 James Henry Leigh, Hunt, 1784-1859. 
From the Examiner (London), 24 Dec, 1815. 

133 William Shakespeare, 1564-1616. 
Sonnet xviii 

134 William Shakespeare, 1564-1616. 

135 William Shakespeare, 1564-1616. 

136 George Peele, 1558 P-1597 ? 

From the Arraignment of Paris, presented to Queen 
Elizabeth by the chapel children c. 1581. 

137 George Peele, 1558 P-1597 P 

These stanzas (after Anacreon) are from the Orpharion, 
licensed in 1589. 

138 William Cartwright, 1611-1643. 

139 Anon. 

From a collection of poems published by William Herbert, 
3 Earl of Pembroke (1580-1630), and Sir Benjamin 
Rudyerd, 1660. 

140 John Donne, 1573-1631. 

141 Thomas Lodge, 1558 P-1625. 

142 Robert Greene, 1560 P-1592. 

143 John Lyly, 1554P-1606. 

From Campaspe (1584), Act iii, sc 5. The song first printed 
in 1632. 

144 Thomas Lodge, 1556 ?-1625. 

From Rosalind (1590). Last 2 stans. omitted. 

145 Michael Drayton, 1563-1631. 

146 Thomas Campion, d. 1619. 

From Campion's Third Book of Ayres, c. 1612. 
[346] 



IfUMBBB 

147 Anon. 

From William Byrd's Psalms, ... 1611. 

148 Mark Alexander Boyd, 156S-1601. 

149 Alexander Brome, 1620-1666. 

150 Anon. 

From Robert Jones' Muses* Garden of Delights, 1610. 

151 Nicholas Breton, 1545P-1626? 

152 Robert Herrick, 1591-1674. 

Original title is Corinna's Going a Maying, 3 stanzas omitted. 

153 Nicholas Breton, 1545P-1626? 

From The Passionate Shepheard, 1604. 

154 William Dnimmond, of Hawthornden, 1585-1649. 

155 Robert Herrick, 1591-1674. 

No. 284 of Hesperides, First 4 stans. and four lines of the 5th 
stan. (first issued, 1648). 

156 George Chapman, 1559 P-1634. 

157 Sir John Suckling, 1609-1642. 

A Ballad Upon a Wedding, stans. 8, 9, 10. 

158 Nathaniel Field, 1587-1633. 
Amends for Ladies (1618), Act iv, sc. 1. 

159 Sir William Davenant, 1606-1668. 

160 Anon. 

161 Richard Lovelace, 1618-1658. 
From Lucasta, 1649. 

162 Richard Lovelace, 1618-1658. 

163 Anon. 

From Capt. Tobias Hume's First Part of Airs. . . . 1605. 
Second and last stan. 

164 Anon. 

From Thomas Ford's Musicke of Sundrie Kindes, 1607. Three 
stans. omitted. 

165 Anon. 

From John Wilbye's Second Set of Madrigals, 1609. 

166 Anthony Munday, 1553-1633. 

From Primaleon of Greece, trans, out of French and Italian, 
1619. The song is Munday's own. 
[347] 



NUMBBR 

167 Thomas Carew, 1598P-1639? 

First appeared in Walter Porter's MadrigaUs and Ayres^ 
1632. 

168 Sir John Suckling, 1609-1642. 
Orsames' Song in Aglauray 1638. 

169 George Wither or Withers, 1558-1667. 

As first printed in original edition of Fidelia, 1615. 

170 Richard Crashaw, 1613 P-1649. 

From poem Wishes, which first appeared in 1646. 

171 Thomas Lodge, 1558-1625. 

172 Ben Jonson, 1573P-1637. 
Opening lines of the Sad Shepherd. 

173 William Browne, 1591-1643. 
From Tlie Inner Temple Ma^ue. 

174 Anon. 16th cent. 

175 Anon. 

From Francis Davison's Poetical Bapsody, 1602. 

176 Robert Herrick, 1591-1674. 
Hesperides 83, (1648). 

177 Abraham Cowley, 1618-1667. 
From The Mistress, 1647. 

178 Sir John Suckling, 1609-1642. 

First two stans. of a poem of five stans. entitled Song. 

179 William Habington, 1605-1654. 

From the third edition of Castara, 1640. 

180 Abraham Cowley, 1618-1667. 

First stan. of a poem of four stans. entitled The Change. 
From The Mistress, 1647. 

181 Richard Crashaw, 1613 P-1649. 

First appeared in Steps to the Temple, 1646. 

182 Edmund Spenser, 1552 P-1599. 

183 WiUiam Cartwright, 1611-1643. 

184 Edmund Waller, 1606-1687. 

185 Thomas Carew, 1598 P-1639 ? 

[348] 



NUMSSB 

186 Aurelian Townsend, /. 1601-1643. 

From a poem entitled His Mistress Found ; written in reply- 
to Herrick's or Carew's poem The Enquiry. 

187 Aurelian Townsend,/. 1601-1643. 

Fomid by Bullen in Malone ms. 13, fol. 53, and published 
by him in Speculum Amantis. 

188 George Turberville or Turbervile, 1540 P-1610 ? 

189 Samuel Daniel, 1562-1619. 

Hymen's Triumph (1615), Act i, sc. 1, L 83. 

190 Samuel Daniel, 1562-1619. 
To Delia (1592), Sonnet xli. 

191 Thomas Campion, d. 1619. 

From Campion and Rosseter*s Book o/Ayres, 1601. 

192 Anon. 

From Robert Jones' Muses* Garden of Delights, 1610. 

193 Anon. 

From John Danyel's Songs for the Lute. . . . 1606. 

194 Anon. 

From John Dowland*s Third and Last Book of Songs and 
Ayres, 1603. Second and last stan. of a song ascribed to 
Sir Edward Dyer. 

195 Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher. 
The Waman-Hater (1607), Act iii, sc 1. 

196 John Fletcher, 1579-1625. 

The Tragedy of Valentinian (1647), Act v, sc. ii. 

197 John Fletcher, 1579-1625. 
The Nice Valour, 1647. 

198 John Webster, 1580 ?-l 625? 

The WhUe Demi (1612), Act v, sa 1. 

199 William Strode, 1602-1645. 
From Floating Island. 

200 Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher. 
Philaster (1609 ?), Act 5, sc. 5. 

201 Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher. 
The Maid's Tragedy (1619), Act ii, sc. 1. 

302 Henry King, 1592-1669. 

[349] 



NUMBEB 

203 Henry King, 1592-1669. 
From The Exequy^ 1657. | 

204 John Fletcher, 1579-1625. 
The Queen of Corinth^ Act iii, so. 9. 

205 Robert Herrick, 1591-1674. 

206 Michael Drayton, 1563-1631. 
From the Muses Elysium^ 1630. 

207 Ben Jonson, 1573 P-1637. 
From Every Man in His Humour (4to ed.). 

208 Abraham Cowley, 1618-1667. 
Sylva. Ode 1, On the Prayse of Poetry. 

209 George Chapman, 1559 P-1634. 

210 Thomas Churchyard, 1520 P-1604. 

211 John Gower, 1325 P-1408. 
From Confessio Amantis, lib. quint. 1. 3957. 

212 John Gower, 1325 P-1408. 
From Confessio Amantis, lib. quint 1. 4071. 

213 John ChalkhiU, /. 1600. 
From Thealma and ClearchuSt 1683. 

214 Thomas Sackville, 1 Earl of Dorset and Baron Buckhurst, 

1536-1608. 
From The Induction (Introduction to the Mirrour for Magi- 
strates ^ 1563), Stan. 41. 

215 Thomas Sackville, 1 Earl of Dorset and Baron Buckhurst, 

1536-1608. 
From The Induction (Introduction to the Mirrour for Magi- 
strates., 1563), Stan. 48. 

216 Thomas Nash or Nashe, 1567-1601. 
Dido^ Qveene of Carthage (1594), L 540. 

217 Anon. 
From A Yorkshire Tragedy , 1608, so. x. 

218 Christopher Marlowe, 1564-1593. 
The Jew of Malta, 1633, Acti, sc. 1. 

219 Christopher Marlowe, 1564-1593. 
Tamburlaine the Great (1590), first part Act ii. sc 7. 

[350] 



NuifBEB 

220 William Shakespeare, 1564-1616. 
First part K Hen. IV, Act iv, sc. 1. 

221 William Shakespeare, 1564-1616. 
Midsttmmer^^ighfs dream. Act 11, sc. 1. 

222 William Shakespeare, 1564-1616. 
Winter^s Tale, Act iv, sc. iv. 

223 William Shakespeare, 1564-1616. 
The Tempest, Act iv, sc 1. 

224 John MUton, 1608-1674. 
Sam, Ag. 1. 1104. 

225 Dr. Joseph Beaumont, 1615-1699. 
Psyche (1648), can. 1, stans. 13, 14, 16, 17, 

226 John Milton, 1608-1674. 
P. L. Bk. 1, L 283. 

227 John Milton, 1608-1674. 
P. L. Bk. 1, 1. 533. 

228 John Marston, 1575P-1634. 

Part 1, Antonio and Mellida (1602), Act iii. 

229 John Marston, 1575 P-1634. 
Antonki's Revenge, Act iii, sc. 3. 

230 James Shirley, 1596-1666. 
From The Brothers, 1653. 

231 John Webster, 1580 ?-l 625? 

The Ihichess of Malfi (1623), Act iv, sc. 2. 

232 Cyril Toumeur, Tumour or Turner, 1575 P-1626. 
The JRevenger^s Tragwdie (1607), Act iii, sc. 4. 

233 Sir William Davenant, 1606-1668. 
Gondihert (1651), Bk. ii, can. 5, stan. 32. 

234 Cyril Toumeur, Tumour or Turner, 1575 P-1626. 
The Atheists Tragedie{\Q\\), Act ii, sc. 1. 

235 John Ford,/. 1639. 

The Broken Heart (1633), Act v, sc. 3. 

236 Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher. 
Thierry and Theoderet (1621 ?), Act iv, sc. 1. 

237 Thomas Middleton, 1570P-1627. 

The Mayor of Queenborough, Act ii, sc. 2. 
1351] 



Number 

238 William Shakespeare, 1564-1616. 
Sonnet XXV. 

239 Thomas Dekker, 1570P-1641 ? 

The Honest Whore (1604), Act v, sc. 2. 

240 James Shirley, 1596-1666. 

The Maid's Revenge (1639), Act i, sa 1. 

241 Thomas Hoccleve or Occleve, c. 1370-c. 1450. 
The Governail of Princes ^ stans. 299, 301. 

242 WiUiam Basse or Bas, d. 1653? 
From WWs Recreations (1640). 

243 Ben Jonson, 1573 P-1637. 

244 Francis Beaumont, 1584-1616. 

245 George Chapman, 1559 P-1634. 

From Byron's Conspiraci/ (1608), Act ill, sc 1. 

246 John Fletcher, 1579-1625. 

Printed at end of comedy The Honest Man's Fortune. 

247 James Shirley, 1596-1666. 

From Cupid and Death, A Ma^us, 1653. One stan. omitted. 

248 James Shirley, 1596-1666. 

From the Contention of Ajax and Ulysses, 1659. 

249 William Habington, 1605-1654. 

Original title is Nox nocti indicat Scientiam. From Castara 
(1640), stans. 6, 7, 8, 9. 



[352] 



INDEX TO FIRST LINES 



>-'INDEX TO FIRST LINES 

NUUBEB 

A Clerk ther was of Oxenford also 11 

A good man was ther of religioun 12 

A litle lowly hermitage it was 129 

A steed, a steed, of matchless speed 160 

A sweet disorder in the dresse 176 

A yong Squyer 10 

Accurst be love, and they that trust his trains 141 

Ah ! I remember well (and how can I 189 

Allone as I went up and doun 56 

An old decrepit hag she was, grown white 213 

And, more to luUe him in his slumber soft 130 

And ever, against eating cares 117 

And now all nature seem*d in love 20 

And so determine I to serve until my breath 81 

Aprille with his shoures soote 13 

Arcadia was, of old, a state Ill 

Are they shadows that we see ? = . . . 109 

As I was walking all alane 63 

Ask me no more where Jove bestows 185 

At my back I always hear 44 

At Sestos Hero dwelt ; Hero the fair 125 

Beauty is but a flower 49 

Beauty sat bathing by a spring 166 

Behold 110 

Blest pair of Sirens, pledges of Heaven's joy 114 

Boast not of what thou would'st have done, but do . . . 224 

By him lay heavy Sleejpy the cousin of Death 214 

[355] 



Number 

Call for the robin-red-breast and the wren 198 

Care-charming Sleep, thou easer of all woes 196 

Come, heavy souls, oppressed with the weight 199 

Come, Sleep, and with thy sweet deceiving 195 

Crookback'd he was, tooth-shaken and blear-eyed . . . 215 

Crowned with flowers I saw fair Amaryllis 147 

Cupid abroad was lated in the night 137 

Cvpid and my Campaspe playd 143 

Dear, beauteous Death ! the jewel of the just 54 

Dear Night ! this world's defeat 38 

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee ... 53 

Depart, depart, depart ! 80 

Dethe was to hastyfe 241 

Discover thou what is 39 

Eftsoones they heard a most melodious sound 131 

Fair and fair, and twice so fair 136 

Faire Daffadills, we weep to see 205 

Fear no more the heat o' the sun 134 

Flora hath bin all about 153 

For mirth of May, wyth skippis and wyth hoppis .... 18 

For see, the dapple gray coursers of the mome 27 

Forget not yet the tried intent 78 

Fra bank to bank, fra wood to wood I rin 148 

Fresh Spring, the herald of loves mighty king 182 

Full many a glorious morning have I seen 29 

Get up, get up for shame, the Blooming Mome .... 152 

Geue place you Ladies and begon 6 

Give me a spirit that on this life's rough sea 245 

Give me the merchants of the Indian mines 218 

Go, Soul, the body's guest 86 

Go and catch a falling star 140 

Goe to, goe to ; thou Hest, Philosophy 228 

Good Folke, for Gold or Hyre 145 

Happy those early dayes, when I 89 

He fearlesse stands ; he knows whom he doth trust . . . 106 
1356) 



NUMBEB 

He first deceased ; she for a little tried 108 

He is gone, that in 230 

He lay in 's armour, as if that had been 234 

He nothing common did or mean 51 

He scarce had ceased when the superior Fiend 226 

He that loues a rosie cheeke 167 

Heark hither. Reader ; would'st thou see 105 

Hence, all you vain delights 197 

Her feet beneath her petticoat 157 

Her golden hair o'erspred her face 70 

Here 's an eye 232 

Here 's weight enough to make a heartstring crack ! . . . 217 

Here lies the ruin'd Cabinet 107 

Here she was wont to go ! and here ! and here ! .... 172 

How bright wert thou, when Shem*s admiring eye ... 22 

How happy is he born and taught 95 

How many new years have growm old 192 

How sweetly did they float upon the wings 119 

Hyd, Absolon, thy gilte tresses clere 8 

I dwell in Grace's Court 91 

I pray you then, my friends, disdain not for to view . . . 210 

I prithee send me back my heart 178 

I see the sun 32 

I sing of a maiden 66 

I walk imseen 34 

I wish I were where Helen hes 61 

Ichot a burde in boure bryht 3 

If great Apollo ofFer'd as a dower 77 

In deep of night, when drowsiness 115 

In the merry month of May 151 

Indeed, if you will look on poesy 207 

Is she dead? 231 

It tells the Conqueror 249 

It was demanded once^ What God did doe 75 

Lay a garland on my hearse 201 

Like to the clear in highest sphere 171 

Look, love, what envious streaks 30 

Lord how the heavens be spangled ! How each spark . . 37 

[357] 



NUMBKB 

Love, brave Vertue*s younger brother 181 

Love in my bosom like a bee 144 

Love in her sunny Eyes does basking play 180 

Love not me for comely grace 165 

Man is his own star, and the soul, that can 246 

Marie ! I lent my gossop my mear, to fetch hame coills . . 74 

May not a Potter, that, from out the Ground 101 

Mirry Margaret 4 

Mortality, behold, and fear 244 

My beloved spake, and said unto me 15 

My father oft would speak 200 

My gentle Puck, come hither. Thou rememberest . . . 221 

My Girle, thou gazest much 188 

My heart is high above, my body is full of bliss . . . . 174 

My Love in her attire doth show her wit ....... 175 

My lustes they do me leeue 43 

My mind to me a kingdom is 92 

My soul, sit thou a patient looker-on 104 

Nature that framed us of four elements 219 

No thyng ys to man so dere 1 

Now barkes the wolfe against the fulle cheekt moon . . . 229 

Now I turn to thee, thou shadow 235 

Now she has kilted her robes of green 60 

Now the bright morning-star, Day's harbinger 17 

Now westward Sol had spent the richest beams . . . . 120 

Now winter nights enlarge 40 

O come, soft rest of cares ! come. Night ! 156 

** O goe againe," then said the kinge 59 

O Love, they wrong thee much 163 

O mistress mine, where are you roaming ? 135 

O mortall folke ! you may beholde and se 52 

O Proserpina 222 

O the sad day! 50 

O waly, waly, up the bank 62 

Oh, lull me, luU me, charming air 118 

Oh cruel Time ! which takes in trust 45 

One day, nigh wearie of the yrkesome way 69 

Onto the ded gois all Estatis 48 

[358] 



Number 

Pack clouds away, and welcome day , , . 68 

Patience, my lord ! why, 't is the soul of peace 239 

Phoebus, arise 154 

Renowned Spenser, lie a thought more nigh 242 

Ring out, ye crystal spheres ! . . . . , 116 

Rise, lady mistress, rise ! , . . . 158 

Seas, earth, and heaven, he did in verse comprise .... 209 

See how the orient dew 23 

See where she sits upon the grassie greene 5 

Seldom it comes, to few from heaven sent 96 

Sentinel of the morning hght ! 33 

Shall I, wasting in despaire 169 

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day ? 133 

Shepherds, all, and maidens fair 36 

Sleep on, my Love, in thy cold bed 203 

So glides along the wanton brook 139 

So restlesse Cromwell could not cease 100 

Soft, Cupid, soft, there is no haste 150 

Soul of the Age ! 243 

Steer, hither steer your winged pines 173 

Still do the stars impart their light 138 

Such were the words of the bards 47 

Sumer is icumen in 14 

Syne Wynter wan, quhen austem Eolus 41 

Tell me not, (sweet,) I am unkinde 161 

Tell me not of a face that 's fair 149 

Than gan I studye in my-self and seyne 2 

That proud honour claimed 227 

That which her slender waist confined 184 

The barge she sat in, like a burnish'd throne 128 

The blake wether tho sche tok 212 

The chiefe vse then in man of that he knowes 98 

The fuller stream of her luxuriant Hair 124 

The glories of our blood and state 248 

The golden globe incontinent 21 

The grey cock gat up an' flappit his wings 64 

[359] 



NUMBEB 

The growing Lilies bear her skin 186 

The high Perfections, wherewith heav'n do's please . . . 102 

The horse Fair Annet rade upon 71 

The lark now leaves his wat'ry nest 159 

The last and greatest Herald of Heaven's King 58 

The loppfed tree in time may grow again 90 

The Lord descended from above 55 

The morrow fayre with purple beames 26 

The motion which the nine-fold sacred quire 113 

The mounting lark, day's herald, got on wing 121 

The night is passed, & ioyfull day appeareth 67 

The noble hart that harbours vertuous thought .... 99 

The outside of his doublet was 73 

The painful warrior famoused for fight 238 

The Poets fayne that when the world beganne 85 

The purpour sone, with tendir bemys reid 25 

The soote season, that bud and bloom forth brings ... 19 

The star that bids the shepherd fold 35 

The World 's a bubble ; and the life of man 87 

There are two births ; the one when light 183 

There in perpetual summer's shade 206 

There is a Lady sweet and kind 164 

There on 's immortal throne of Death they see 225 

There was also a Nonne, a Prioresse 9 

These our actors % • ■ 223 

These pretty babes, with hand in hand 72 

They reach 'd the Scaean towers 127 

This ae nighte, this ae nighte 65 

This butcher, whil'st his hands were yet held vp . . . . 216 

This dismal gall'ry, lofty, long, and wide 233 

This life, which seems so fair 88 

Thou, whose sweet eloquence doth make me mute ... 83 

Thou must not undervalue what thou hast 94 

Thou rob'st my Dales of bus'nesse and delights . . . . 177 

Thrice toss these oaken ashes in the air 146 

Thus it befell upon a nyht 211 

T is not a Pyramide of marble stone 208 

'T is of all sleeps the sweetest 236 

To rest! to rest! The herald of the day 28 

[360] 



Number 

To the ocean now I fly ... 123 

Truly some men there be 76 

Victorious men of earth, no more 247 

Was this the face that launched a thousand ships .... 126 

We, that did nothing study but the way 202 

We are aU, my lord 237 

We trample grass, and prize the flowers of May .... 97 

Weep no more, nor sigh, nor groan 204 

Well done, my pretty ones ! rain roses still 122 

Were I as base as is the lowly playne 84 

Were I to name, out of the times gone by 132 

What ? Take heed, do not profane 240 

What better change appears ? 16 

What 's that we see from far ? the spring of Day .... 155 

What should I say ? 79 

When all is doen and saied, in the ende thus shall you finde 93 

When God at first made man 103 

When gods had framed the sweet of women's face . . . 142 

When in the East the dawn doth blush 31 

When love with unconfined wings 162 

When men shall find thy flower, thy glory pass 190 

When that the rowes and the rayes redde 24 

When thou must home to shades of underground . . . . 191 

Where is his son 220 

Where is Paris and Hel^yne 46 

Where waters smoothest run, deep are the fords .... 194 

Who ere she be 170 

Why canst thou not, as others do 193 

Why so pale and wan, fond lover ? 168 

Witii how sad steps, O Moone, thou clim'st the skies ! . . 82 

Yee blushing Virgins happie are 179 

Yet if His Majesty, our sovereign lord 57 

Yisterday fair sprang the flowris 42 

You brave heroic minds 112 

You meaner beauties of the night 7 

Your smiles are not, as other women's be ...... 187 

[361] 



PRINTED FOR THE CAXTON CLUB 
BY THE UNIVERSITY PRESS 
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S. A. 






LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




014 090 841 1 S 



— ^-^^ 



;\/5 



l\;V.^ •'•. T 



.■>**f i>:. 



'k' ^■■i'^i 



i^.-\['S\ 






■-: ' ; 






r*-*." 






J.-'^k^'f'^ 









